carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin

carcinomatous

ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-təs 

adjective

Examples of carcinoma in a Sentence

four deaths attributable to carcinoma

Recent Examples on the Web

My breast cancer was an estrogen receptor ductal carcinoma. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 23 Oct. 2024

The emergency biopsy yielded in March 2022 a diagnosis of a stage 2 invasive mammary carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

The cases ranged from ductal carcinoma in situ, a non-invasive stage zero breast cancer, to stage 3 invasive breast cancers. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 26 July 2024

Basal cell carcinoma Basal cell carcinoma Getty Images Most Popular Cancer Doctors Blamed Menopause for My Symptoms for a Year. —Amy Norton, SELF, 19 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek karkinōma cancer, from karkinos

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing carcinoma

• squamous cell carcinoma

Kids Definition

carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə 

plural carcinomas or carcinomata -mət-ə 

: a tumor that consists of epithelial cells and is often fatal if not treated

Medical Definition

carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata -mət-ə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin compare sarcoma

carcinomatous

-ˈō-mət-əs 

adjective