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

Like Monaghan, who was diagnosed with melanoma in 2007, White is also an advocate for skin health. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025

In a landmark trial published in 2021, oncologists at several cancer centers across the U.S. and in Israel gave fecal transplants to 10 patients with metastatic melanoma to try and improve their responses to PD-1 inhibitors. —David Cox, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2025

In mice with melanoma, the ones that were given aspirin had less frequent metastases of the cancer compared to those who were not given the medication. —Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025

Led by Merck’s former research chief, Roger Perlmutter, the drug discovery firm is testing several drug candidates for different types of cancer including melanoma and prostate cancer. —Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 7 Mar. 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