melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

1

: a tumor containing dark pigment

2

: a highly malignant tumor that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

Examples of melanoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It was later found that 23% to 37% of those sampled had confirmed melanoma lesions, a type of skin cancer, according to a new study published in Nature. — Dr. Yonathan Daniel, ABC News, 25 July 2026

Potential adverse effects identified by the FDA include heart toxicity, infections, pancreatitis, increased or decreased insulin sensitivity, serious immunoresponses, melanoma and death. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Emerson and his colleagues thought maybe the melanoma was being caused by a chemical or pollutant leaching into the lake. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 July 2026

The scan, which produces a 3D image of the entire eye, rather than just the surface, detected a small mole that turned out to be uveal melanoma, the BBC reported. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

melan- (in melanosis, melanotic) + -oma

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing melanoma

• malignant melanoma

Rhymes for melanoma

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

Kids Definition

melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə 

: a usually malignant tumor containing dark pigment

Medical Definition

melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə 

1

: a benign or malignant skin tumor containing dark pigment

2

: a tumor of high malignancy that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

called also malignant melanoma, melanocarcinoma, melanoepithelioma, melanosarcoma