definitions

carcinogen

[ kahr-sin-uh-juh n, -jen, kahr-suh-nuh-jen, -noh- ]
/ kɑrˈsɪn ə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn, ˈkɑr sə nəˌdʒɛn, -noʊ- /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR carcinogen ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Pathology.

any substance or agent that tends to produce a cancer.

RELATED WORDS

savage, destructive, suicidal, murderous, pernicious, noxious, dangerous, poisonous, mortal, cruel, bloody, harmful, toxic, violent, malignant, virulent, lethal, fatal, baleful, baneful

Nearby words

carcass, carcassonne, carchemish, carcino-, carcinoembryonic antigen, carcinogen, carcinogenesis, carcinogenic, carcinoid, carcinoid syndrome, carcinolytic

Origin of carcinogen

First recorded in 1935–40; carcino- + -gen

Related forms

car·cin·o·gen·ic [kahr-suh-nuh-jen-ik, -noh-] /ˌkɑr sə nəˈdʒɛn ɪk, -noʊ-/, adjectivecar·ci·no·ge·nic·i·ty [kahr-suh-noh-juh-nis-i-tee] /ˌkɑr sə noʊ dʒəˈnɪs ɪ ti/, nounan·ti·car·cin·o·gen, nounan·ti·car·cin·o·gen·ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for carcinogenic

British Dictionary definitions for carcinogenic

carcinogen

/ (kɑːˈsɪnədʒən, ˈkɑːsɪnəˌdʒɛn) /

noun

pathol any substance that produces cancer

Derived Forms

carcinogenic, adjectivecarcinogenicity, noun

Word Origin for carcinogen

C20: from Greek karkinos cancer + -gen
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

Medicine definitions for carcinogenic

carcinogen

[ kär-sĭn′ə-jən, kär′sə-nə-jĕn′ ]

n.

A cancer-causing substance or agent.

Related forms

car′cin•o•gen′ic (kär′sə-nə-jĕn′ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for carcinogenic

carcinogen

[ kär-sĭn′ə-jən ]

A substance or agent that can cause cells to become cancerous by altering their genetic structure so that they multiply continuously and become malignant. Asbestos, DDT, and tobacco smoke are examples of carcinogens.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture definitions for carcinogenic

carcinogenic

[ (kahr-suh-nuh-jen-ik) ]

A descriptive term for things capable of causing cancer.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.