lymphoma
Americannoun
noun
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Any of various usually malignant tumors that arise in the lymph nodes or other lymphatic tissues, often manifested by painless enlargement of one or more lymph nodes.
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See also Hodgkin's disease
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lymphoma
From New Latin, dating back to 1870–75; see origin at lymph-, -oma
Explanation
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects blood and lymph nodes. Lymphoma makes it hard for the body to fight off infection. The term lymphoma adds the medical suffix -oma, "morbid growth or tumor," to lymph, from its Latin root lympha, "water" or "goddess of water." Lymph is the colorless, water-like fluid in our bodies that contains white blood cells, and the lymphatic system is the part of our immune system that carries lymph toward the heart.
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.
Legend has been building a separate in-vivo track in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and the company says it plans to present early stage results soon.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
Although Sophie Butler from Brislington has pet insurance, she has spent thousands of pounds treating her dog with follicular lymphoma, and her 13-year-old rescue cat with chronic kidney disease.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
Although the liver showed the strongest effects, a small number of mice also developed other cancers, including lung cancer and lymphoma.
From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2026
Actor Sam Neill says he is cancer-free after five years of living with lymphoma, thanks to a genetic therapy that modified his immune system.
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
“But she also has lymphoma, and it’s very serious.”
From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata
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.
