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
Derived 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.
When we got the diagnosis of Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a curable form of blood cancer, my first words in response were, “I am thrilled.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026
She describes her previously healthy lifestyle, which included running, skiing and even once swimming in New York's Hudson River, "eerily, to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society".
From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025
She hinted she was now also being treated for lupus and leukaemia by tagging the Lupus Research Alliance as well as the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society in her latest post.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2024
While an exact diagnosis of their illness was not immediately clear, the pop star tagged both the Lupus Research Alliance and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in their post.
From New York Times • Jun. 4, 2024
Lymphoma, enchondroma and osteoma, if not too extensively involving the laryngeal walls, may be excised with basket punch forceps, but lymphoma is probably better treated by radium.*
From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Jackson, Chevalier
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.
