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
John HoleMelanocytes, 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
Claudia KalbThe 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
Gina KolataExamples of melanocyte in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is released from melanocytes, the same cell type that creates skin pigment.
—Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 20 Mar. 2025
In rare cases, vitiligo affects the melanocytes in the ears, leading to hearing loss.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2025
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which cells known as melanocytes are killed off in certain areas of the skin.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2025
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks cells called melanocytes in the skin.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melanocyte
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Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 20 Mar. 2025
In rare cases, vitiligo affects the melanocytes in the ears, leading to hearing loss.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2025
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which cells known as melanocytes are killed off in certain areas of the skin.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2025
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks cells called melanocytes in the skin.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melanocyte
Cite this Entry
“Melanocyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melanocyte. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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-
ˈmel-ə-nō-
: a cell (as of the skin, eye, or hair follicle) that produces melanin see melansome compare melanophore
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