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

Common types of adrenal tumors include adrenal adenomas (benign), adrenal carcinomas (malignant and prone to spreading) peochromocrytomas, and paragangliomas. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025

Cardwell died at age 28 in December 2023 after she was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma the previous January. —Elissa Rosen, People.com, 12 June 2025

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. —Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 7 May 2025

Merkel cell carcinoma: Fast-moving and aggressive, this rare skin cancer causes a painless, shiny bump on the skin. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 5 May 2025

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

Rhymes for carcinoma

• ambystoma
• atheroma
• coloboma
• granuloma
• haematoma
• hamartoma
• hemangioma
• hematoma
• hepatoma
• hybridoma
• melanoma
• myeloma

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