metastasize
Americanverb (used without object)
-
Pathology. (of malignant cells or disease-producing organisms) to spread to other parts of the body by way of the blood or lymphatic vessels or membranous surfaces.
-
to spread injuriously.
Street gangs have metastasized in our city.
-
to transform, especially into a dangerous form.
The KGB metastasized after the fall of the Soviet Union. Truth metastasized into lurid fantasy.
verb
-
pathol (esp of cancer cells) to spread to a new site in the body via blood or lymph vessels
-
(of a problem) to deteriorate or spread into new areas
Etymology
Origin of metastasize
First recorded in 1905–10; metastas(is) + -ize
Explanation
When things metastasize, they grow and spread. Cancer cells are said to metastasize when they spread from one part of the body to another. A cancer patient dreads hearing the word metastasize, since it means that the malignant cells have spread through the body. Breast cancer cells are said to metastasize, for example, if they're found by a doctor in a patient's liver or brain. The process of this happening is known as metastasis. Both words come from the Late Latin metastasis, or "transition," with the Greek root word metastasis, "removal, migration, change, or revolution."
Vocabulary lists containing metastasize
The Kite Runner
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Fault in Our Stars
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
That’s manifested in a widespread selloff that has started to metastasize beyond purveyors of enterprise software offerings.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 14, 2026
AJ: Dr. King predicted that if America did not address the cancer of bigotry, it would metastasize and bring down the nation.
From Salon • Nov. 26, 2024
The fault isn’t just with them — in Hollywood, blame and error metastasize — and Bach tracks how Transamerica, UA executives and the media contributed to the production’s failure.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2024
“This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering,” Blinken told reporters.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 8, 2024
Without those limitations, copyright law will bloat and metastasize into a claim of monopoly, or at least control, over the very architectures of our communications technology.
From The Public Domain Enclosing the Commons of the Mind by Boyle, James
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.
