precancerous

adjective

pre·​can·​cer·​ous (ˌ)prē-ˈkan(t)s-rəs 

-ˈkan(t)-sə-

: tending to become cancerous

a precancerous lesion

Examples of precancerous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Colonoscopy remains the only all-in-one test that can both detect and remove precancerous polyps and identify cancer early, according to Kupfer. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Colonoscopy remains the gold standard because doctors can find and remove precancerous polyps in the same procedure. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 19 Aug. 2026

That revved up tumor-eliminating T cells and a year later, colonoscopies showed fewer precancerous growths and no advanced polyps, the MD Anderson team reported in Nature Medicine. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Follow-up care at the now-familiar UCSF confirmed severe precancerous dysplasia, or abnormal cells that, if left untreated, could develop into cancer. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for precancerous

• cancerous

Medical Definition

precancerous

adjective

pre·​can·​cer·​ous -ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs 

: tending to become cancerous : premalignant

a precancerous lesion