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

Buchwald and his colleagues are in the process of enrolling patients in a similar randomized trial that will test the timing theory on immunotherapy for melanoma patients. —Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026

The study's first phase focused on breast and prostate cancers and will examine lung, melanoma, colorectal and HPV-related cancers by July 2026, also exploring genetic and environmental factors. —Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 5 Feb. 2026

More recently, a Canadian study reported that giving fecal microbiota transplants before patients started immunotherapy for lung cancer or melanoma was linked to higher response rates. —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026

Blackstock died in August 2025 at the age of 48, following a battle with melanoma, a form of skin cancer. —Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 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