carcinogen
Americannoun
-
carcinogens
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of carcinogen
Explanation
A carcinogen is anything that causes cancer. Cigarette smoke, car exhaust, asbestos: all of these are known carcinogens. Don't even ask about the ones we don't know about... When you see the suffix "-gen" you know you're dealing with something that produces, causes, or generates something. Think of the Book of Genesis, or the beginning of all things. "Carcinoma," the name of a specific type of cancer, comes from the Greek karkinos, which means "crab" and "ulcer," as well as the animal associated with the astrological sign of Cancer. So you can see that carcinogen simply means "generating cancer."
Vocabulary lists containing carcinogen
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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.
See Examples For:
And the International Agency for Research on Cancer maintains that peer-reviewed studies show that Roundup is “probably” a carcinogen to humans and is linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
Since then, he and roughly 170,000 other users have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and related cancers associated with extended exposure to glyphosate, Roundup’s key ingredient and a probable carcinogen.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
Ethylene oxide was already identified as a carcinogen by the state, but the new assessment updates its risk levels based on the new research.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026
“It can take like 10 years after being exposed to a carcinogen, or even 20 years for cancer to manifest.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026
A substance that is not a carcinogen in the ordinary sense may disturb the normal functioning of some part of the body in such a way that malignancy results.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Studies have found oil wells can emit carcinogens and are linked to adverse health effects.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
Most studies of carcinogens rely on adult mice, typically at least 4 to 6 weeks old.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 29, 2026
Two recent studies about the Marshall fire—both of which focused on the lingering carcinogens and contaminants it released into the surrounding neighborhoods—confirm as much.
From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025
The former FDA official said several food dyes, including Red No. 3 - which is banned in California - should also be blocked by the US government because of concerns about carcinogens.
From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2024
In terms of evidence gained from animal experiments we shall see that five or possibly six of the pesticides must definitely be rated as carcinogens.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
