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• chemo
  chemo

  noun

  chemotherapy or a chemotherapy treatment.
• chemo-
  chemo-

  a combining form with the meanings “chemical,” “chemically induced,” “chemistry,” used in the formation of compound words.

chemo

¹ American  

[kee-moh, kem-oh] / ˈki moʊ, ˈkɛm oʊ /

noun

Informal.

chemos plural

1. chemotherapy or a chemotherapy treatment.

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chemo- ² American  

1. a combining form with the meanings “chemical,” “chemically induced,” “chemistry,” used in the formation of compound words.

   chemotherapy.

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chemo ¹ British  

/ ˈkiːməʊ /

noun

1. informal short for chemotherapy

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chemo- ² British  

combining form

1. indicating that chemicals or chemical reactions are involved

   chemotherapy

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Etymology

Origin of chemo¹

By shortening; see -o

Origin of chemo-²

chem-, extracted from chemical or chemistry + -o- or -i-

Example Sentences

Similar damage is sometimes seen in people undergoing chemotherapy and is associated with symptoms often described as "chemo brain."

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

And there’s chemo, general Blitzkrieg bombing, destroy your body’s ability to produce cells at all, or a writ small version of chemo, which is targeted clinical therapies.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Hewlett says the album was also inspired by his late mother-in-law, Amo, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and opted for Eastern medicine instead of chemo.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Her first round of chemo and radiotherapy is over, although she is still living with the disease.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

And unlike Laura, who’d had surgery and chemo and now radiation to get better, his mom hadn’t even stayed in the hospital even though she would lose him if she left.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman