carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin

carcinomatous

ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-təs 

adjective

Examples of carcinoma in a Sentence

four deaths attributable to carcinoma

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Coulier, recent scans and his overall prognosis are looking positive for both the carcinoma in his throat and the lymphoma. —ABC News, 9 May 2026

His first exam was six months later, which caught his second cancer diagnosis, p16 squamous cell carcinoma, or tongue cancer. —Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 8 May 2026

The majority of melanoma cases are attributable to UV exposure, and indoor tanning dramatically increases the risk of developing skin cancer — specifically, squamous cell carcinoma by 58% and basal cell carcinoma by 24%. —Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026

Cameron Rider An eight-hour surgery and rough recovery Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a kind of cancer that usually affects the salivary glands. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 2 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek karkinōma cancer, from karkinos

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing carcinoma

• squamous cell carcinoma

Rhymes for carcinoma

• ambystoma
• atheroma
• coloboma
• granuloma
• haematoma
• hamartoma
• hemangioma
• hematoma
• hepatoma
• hybridoma
• melanoma
• myeloma

Kids Definition

carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə 

plural carcinomas or carcinomata -mət-ə 

: a tumor that consists of epithelial cells and is often fatal if not treated

Medical Definition

carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata -mət-ə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin compare sarcoma

carcinomatous

-ˈō-mət-əs 

adjective