melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

1

: a tumor containing dark pigment

2

: a highly malignant tumor that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

Examples of melanoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a stage 3 melanoma survivor, Koutsoumpas understands how deeply caregiving can touch our lives. —Wes Kilgore, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

The Grammy winner, 43, appeared in the first episode of her new NBC limited series Songs & Stories with Kelly Clarkson on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 12 days after Blackstock died of melanoma on Aug. 7 at age 48. —Rachel Desantis, People.com, 20 Aug. 2025

His instincts were right—the spot was in the early stages of melanoma. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2025

Blackstock, Clarkson’s ex-husband and the father of her two children, died of melanoma at age 48 on Aug. 7. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

melan- (in melanosis, melanotic) + -oma

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing melanoma

• malignant melanoma

Rhymes for melanoma

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

Kids Definition

melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə 

: a usually malignant tumor containing dark pigment

Medical Definition

melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə 

1

: a benign or malignant skin tumor containing dark pigment

2

: a tumor of high malignancy that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

called also malignant melanoma, melanocarcinoma, melanoepithelioma, melanosarcoma