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

Marsh’s daughter, Kristen Ann Carr, died in 1993 at 21 years old from sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects bones and muscle tissue. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

The new conditions include rare pediatric and neurological disorders, such as Aicardi syndrome, a genetic condition that primarily affects girls, and some rare cancers, such as primary cardiac sarcoma. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Multiple children have been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, which usually begins in leg bones, according to the Mayo Clinic, since 2007. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2026

Because his cancer was a rare form of UPS located in the bone, his doctors had to determine whether to treat it with a shorter regimen typically used for soft-tissue sarcoma or the more intensive 27-week protocol used for osteosarcoma. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026

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