precancerous

adjective

pre·​can·​cer·​ous (ˌ)prē-ˈkan(t)s-rəs How to pronounce precancerous (audio)
-ˈkan(t)-sə-
: tending to become cancerous
a precancerous lesion

Examples of precancerous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meat that's been smoked, grilled, charcoaled, or preserved with salt may lead to gene mutations and precancerous changes in the stomach. Carrie Madormo, Health, 17 Oct. 2025 Obesity increases body-wide inflammation, which can set the stage for precancerous changes. Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025 Cervical cancer screenings allow physicians to spot and remove cancerous or even precancerous lesions (clusters of odd-looking cells that could one day become cancer). Erica Sloan, SELF, 3 Sep. 2025 Researchers found that endoscopists—physicians who perform colonoscopies—were significantly less effective at detecting precancerous polyps without AI assistance after becoming accustomed to using the technology. Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for precancerous

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of precancerous was in 1879

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Cite this Entry

“Precancerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precancerous. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

precancerous

adjective
pre·​can·​cer·​ous -ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce precancerous (audio)
: tending to become cancerous : premalignant
a precancerous lesion
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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