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Synonyms

carcinoma

American  
[kahr-suh-noh-muh] / ˌkɑr səˈnoʊ mə /

noun

Pathology.
carcinomas, plural carcinomata plural
  1. a malignant and invasive epithelial tumor that spreads by metastasis and often recurs after excision; cancer.


carcinoma British  
/ ˌkɑːsɪˈnəʊmə /

noun

  1. any malignant tumour derived from epithelial tissue

  2. another name for cancer

"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

carcinoma Scientific  
/ kär′sə-nōmə /
carcinomas plural
  1. Any of various cancerous tumors that are derived from epithelial tissue of the skin, blood vessels, or other organs and that tend to metastasize to other parts of the body.

  2. See also basal cell carcinoma squamous cell carcinoma


carcinoma Cultural  
  1. A malignant tumor in the tissues that make up the skin, glands, mucous membranes, and lining of organs.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of carcinoma

1715–25; < Latin: ulcer, tumor < Greek karkínōma; see carcino-, -oma

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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.

The drug, INBRX-106, showed positive results in a Phase 2 trial for patients with metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

Mammary carcinoma, an aggressive and common cancer in cats, provided some of the clearest insights.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2026

In May 2025, Arnold announced that he was ill, and had received a diagnosis of stage 4 clear cell renal carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer, which had metastasised into his lung.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

That led to a biopsy, which in April revealed that Hamilton had Stage 2 triple-positive invasive lobular carcinoma.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

Not long before Henrietta’s first exam, TeLinde presented his argument about carcinoma in situ to a major meeting of pathologists in Washington, D.C., and the audience heckled him off the stage.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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