malignancy
Americannoun
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the quality or condition of being malignant.
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malignant character, behavior, action, or the like.
the malignancies of war.
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a malignant tumor.
noun
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the state or quality of being malignant
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pathol a cancerous growth
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of malignancy
First recorded in 1595–1605; malign(ant) + -ancy
Vocabulary lists containing malignancy
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.
Unknown to her, the malignancy metastasized during her pregnancy.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
But he sure makes the strongest case for being the most malevolent, influential force there, a malignancy that poisons everything he touches.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026
Not because cancer had been ruled out — it’s possible that the tests might have missed a subtle malignancy, still brewing.
From Salon • May 20, 2025
"Silencing of the SIX2 gene, on the other hand, significantly reduced the malignancy of cancer cells that are resistant to hormonal therapies," Doctoral Researcher Noora Leppänen of the University of Eastern Finland notes.
From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2024
Cancer may sometimes require the complementary action of two chemicals, one of which sensitizes the cell or tissue so that it may later, under the action of another or promoting agent, develop true malignancy.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
