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anaplastic

American  
[an-uh-plas-tik] / ˌæn əˈplæs tɪk /

adjective

Pathology.
  1. (of cells) having reverted to a more primitive form.

  2. of or relating to anaplasty.


anaplastic British  
/ ˌænəˈplæstɪk /

adjective

  1. of or relating to anaplasia

  2. relating to plastic surgery

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of anaplastic

1875–80; < Greek anáplast ( os ) moldable, plastic ( see ana-, -plast) + -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jonathan Jones was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma in 2007 when he was 17 and took temozolomide tablets until November 2023, when he was 33.

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2025

Tests revealed that Clough had anaplastic thyroid cancer, a far more aggressive form than papillary.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2024

She’s a Seattle kindergarten student and a huge Geekie fan who experienced a relapse a few weeks ago in her battle with anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2023

Scientists had already linked an unusual cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma primarily to textured implants, whose rough exteriors presumably cause more inflammation than those of smooth implants.

From New York Times • Sep. 8, 2022

Their complaints range from autoimmune symptoms to a rare cancer called breast implant–associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

From Slate • Jun. 9, 2022