mammography

American  

[ma-mog-ruh-fee] / mæˈmɒg rə fi /

noun

1. x-ray photography of a breast, especially for detection of tumors.

---

mammography British  

/ mæˈmɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. the technique of using X-rays to examine the breast in the early detection of cancer

---

mammography Cultural  

1. Examination of the breasts using x-rays. Mammography is useful in locating tumors of the breast that are too small to be detected by other means.

---

Other Word Forms

• mammograph noun
• mammographic adjective

Etymology

Origin of mammography

First recorded in 1935–40; mamm(a) ² + -o- + -graphy

Example Sentences

Badal is “excited” about AI mammography models, and she’s studying risk-based screening through her own work.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 11, 2025

"I saw the doctor on Monday – on the following Thursday I had mammography and a biopsy and from then on it went so quickly my head was spinning, almost."

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

Citing rising breast cancer rates in young women, an expert panel on Tuesday recommended starting regular mammography screening at age 40, reversing longstanding and controversial guidance that most women wait until 50.

From New York Times • Apr. 30, 2024

The mammography recommendation has a “B” grade, meaning it has moderate net benefit.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 30, 2024

According to the researchers' analyses, the chance of a woman having a benign biopsy following annual screening is less than 1%, and all recall rates for screening mammography are under 10%.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2024