malignancy

American  

[muh-lig-nuhn-see] / məˈlɪg nən si /

Also malignance

noun

PLURAL

malignancies

1. the quality or condition of being malignant.

2. malignant character, behavior, action, or the like.

   the malignancies of war.

3. a malignant tumor.

---

malignancy British  

/ məˈlɪɡnənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being malignant

2. pathol a cancerous growth

---

Other Word Forms

• nonmalignance noun
• nonmalignancy noun

Etymology

Origin of malignancy

First recorded in 1595–1605; malign(ant) + -ancy

Example Sentences

OPA1 is overexpressed in several cancer types and is linked with poor outcomes and therapy resistance in breast cancer, lung cancer and other malignancies.

From Science Daily

By showing how interactions between immune and stromal cells drive these changes, the study offers a model for exploring inflammatory remodeling in other myeloid malignancies and advanced leukemia.

From Science Daily

Not because cancer had been ruled out — it’s possible that the tests might have missed a subtle malignancy, still brewing.

From Salon

"This is a very important finding because it provides insights into how blood cells develop, and can help to establish how alterations in Nup358 contribute to blood malignancies."

From Science Daily

Ion channels are gateways within cells that tightly control the inward and outward flow of essential ions, such as potassium and calcium, and are thought to be critically linked to cancer malignancy and progression.

From Science Daily