precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
(ˌ)prē-ˈkan(t)s-rəs 
-ˈkan(t)-sə-
: tending to become cancerous
a precancerous lesion
Examples of precancerous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The incidence of cervical cancer has plummeted since the mid-1970s, when Pap smear screening to detect precancerous changes became widely available.
—
Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Regular screening plays a key role in identifying and removing precancerous polyps and early-stage cancers, when treatment is most effective.
—Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
These and other screenings can help catch cancer or even precancerous growths as early as possible.
—Richard Goldberg, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
But its sensitivity for detecting precancerous growths in the colon was much lower, at 13%.
—Nicole Cobler, Axios, 4 Feb. 2025
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Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Regular screening plays a key role in identifying and removing precancerous polyps and early-stage cancers, when treatment is most effective.
—Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
These and other screenings can help catch cancer or even precancerous growths as early as possible.
—Richard Goldberg, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
But its sensitivity for detecting precancerous growths in the colon was much lower, at 13%.
—Nicole Cobler, Axios, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precancerous
Cite this Entry
“Precancerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precancerous. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
-ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs
: tending to become cancerous : premalignant
a precancerous lesion
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