plural cancers
1
: a serious disease caused by cells that are not normal and that can spread to one or many parts of the body
breast/lung cancer
He was diagnosed with cancer.
She learned that she has cancer.
Eating certain foods may help reduce the risk of cancer.
Advanced cancers are more difficult to treat.
—often used before another nouncancer patients
cancer prevention
cancer treatments
2
: something bad or dangerous that causes other bad things to happen
—usually singular
Her jealousy was a cancer that slowly destroyed her marriage.
Drugs and violence have become a cancer in the city.
3
a
: the fourth sign of the zodiac that comes between Gemini and Leo and has a crab as its symbol
b
: a person born under the sign of Cancer : a person born between June 22nd and July 22nd
I'm a Taurus, but my best friend is a Cancer.
Cite this Entry
“Cancer.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cancer. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
