sarcoma

noun

sar·​co·​ma sär-ˈkō-mə 

plural sarcomas also sarcomata sär-ˈkō-mə-tə 

: a malignant tumor arising in tissue (such as connective tissue, bone, cartilage, or striated muscle) of mesodermal origin see also ewing's sarcoma, kaposi's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, rous sarcoma

sarcomatous

sär-ˈkō-mə-təs 

adjective

sarcomatous tumors

Examples of sarcoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thankfully, the family found a sarcoma specialist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto — someone who had treated not just one, but dozens of patients with her specific cancer. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 25 June 2025

Ten years later, though, what began w as synovial sarcoma in her calf ultimately resulted in cancer cells spreading to her lungs. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2025

Only about one percent of cancers are sarcomas, and more than 70 subtypes are housed within that single percentage point. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025

Other research found that an AI model was able to classify sarcomas (cancers that attack soft tissues) from images alone, a task that normally requires complex chemical analysis. —Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin sarcōmat-, sarcōma "fleshy excrescence, tumor," borrowed from Greek sárkōma "fleshy excrescence," from sarkō-, stem of sarkoûn "to make fleshy, (middle voice) to become fleshy" (verbal derivative of sark-, sárx "flesh, piece of meat") + -ma, resultative noun suffix — more at sarco-

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sarcoma

• Ewing sarcoma
• Ewing's sarcoma
• Kaposi's sarcoma
• osteogenic sarcoma
• Rous sarcoma

Rhymes for sarcoma

• misnomer
• angiosarcoma
• osteosarcoma
• chondrosarcoma
• enantiomer
• fibrosarcoma
• lymphosarcoma
• comber
• gomer
• omer
• vomer
• leiomyosarcoma

Medical Definition

sarcoma

noun

sar·​co·​ma sär-ˈkō-mə 

plural sarcomas also sarcomata -mət-ə 

: a malignant tumor arising in tissue of mesodermal origin (as connective tissue, bone, cartilage, or striated muscle) that spreads by extension into neighboring tissue or by way of the bloodstream see also ewing's sarcoma, kaposi's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, rous sarcoma, spindle-cell sarcoma compare carcinoma