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

In August 2020, Paul was diagnosed with metastatic Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone and tissue cancer. —Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Caroline Klein, chief communications officer for Smith Entertainment Group, which owns the Utah Jazz, posted a poignant final message Friday following her multiyear battle with stage 4 proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma. —Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025

Biscotto, Rinnert’s partner in the 1970s and ’80s, was diagnosed with Kaposi’s sarcoma in 1982, at the start of a mysterious and growing health crisis largely affecting the gay community. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025

So far, it is being used in breast reconstruction, sarcoma, and head and neck cancer surgeries, but doctors see vast potential for its role in other complex procedures where both accuracy and preservation of function are critical. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 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