melanocyte

noun

me·​la·​no·​cyte mə-ˈla-nə-ˌsīt 

ˈme-lə-nō-

plural melanocytes

: a cell (as of the skin, eye, or hair follicle) that produces melanin

an epidermal melanocyte

The choroid also contains numerous pigment-producing melanocytes that give it a brownish black appearance.

—John Hole

Melanocytes, the body's pigment cells, generally do good, not harm. They give our skin its natural color and, when struck by the sun, churn out additional pigment (or melanin) to darken and protect us.

—Claudia Kalb

The number of Americans diagnosed with melanoma, a cancer of the melanocytes, or pigmented cells of the skin, has increased steadily for decades.

—Gina Kolata

see melanosome compare melanophore

Examples of melanocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During this process, your body releases pigment-producing melanocytes (the cells responsible for your skin’s color) to protect the affected area, Dr. Taylor says. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Oct. 2024

Essentially, soy works as a dark spot corrector by preventing melanin (pigment) from being transferred from melanocytes (color cells) to keratinocytes (skin cells), Dr. Zeichner explains. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 26 Sep. 2024

As few as two blistering sunburns can increase a person’s long-term risk of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, says Rogers. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 22 July 2024

An absence of melanocytes results in a loss of pigmentation. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

melano- + -cyte

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing melanocyte

• melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Kids Definition

melanocyte

noun

me·​la·​no·​cyte mə-ˈlan-ə-ˌsīt 

ˈmel-ə-nō-

: a body cell (as in the skin) that produces or contains melanin

Medical Definition

melanocyte

noun

me·​la·​no·​cyte mə-ˈlan-ə-ˌsīt  ˈmel-ə-nō- 

: a cell (as of the skin, eye, or hair follicle) that produces melanin see melansome compare melanophore