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

Mellencamp filed for divorce from Arroyave in November 2024, months before learning that her melanoma had metastasized to her brain and lungs. —Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026

In 2022, the mother-of-three was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and underwent 17 surgeries over two years as it was upgraded to stage 4. —Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026

Three months after he was born in Palm Springs, his father died of melanoma. —Brian Martin, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026

Lopera, an author on the paper, died from metastatic melanoma 2024, at age 73. —Brianna Abbott, STAT, 7 Apr. 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