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

These may be an early sign of skin cancer, including pigmented basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma. —Catherine Moyer, Verywell Health, 22 May 2025

Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest on February 2023 that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. —Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the most common form of kidney cancer and may be treated through immunotherapy and surgery to remove tumors, according to the National Cancer Institute. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025

The company has secured an exclusive license agreement with Johns Hopkins University for a patent related to the treatment of prostate cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and lung cancer. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2025

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