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sarcoma

noun

sar·​co·​ma sär-ˈkō-mə How to pronounce sarcoma (audio)
plural sarcomas also sarcomata sär-ˈkō-mə-tə How to pronounce sarcoma (audio)
: 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 adjective
sarcomatous tumors

Examples of sarcoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In some cases, clusters of leukemia cells may form a solid mass known as a myeloid sarcoma. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 25 Nov. 2025 Five years later, McClain lost his wife, Nillani, to a rare uterine sarcoma. Brian Unger, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025 Ewing sarcoma, twelve years old. Literary Hub, 25 Nov. 2025 Balgrist University Hospital hosts more than 20 research groups, from biomechanics to bone sarcoma research. Prof. Dr. Med. Mazda Farshad, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sarcoma

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sarcoma was in 1804

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Cite this Entry

“Sarcoma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarcoma. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

Medical Definition

sarcoma

noun
sar·​co·​ma sär-ˈkō-mə How to pronounce sarcoma (audio)
plural sarcomas also sarcomata -mət-ə How to pronounce sarcoma (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on sarcoma

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