carcinogen
Americannoun
-
carcinogens
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of carcinogen
Explanation
A carcinogen is anything that causes cancer. Cigarette smoke, car exhaust, asbestos: all of these are known carcinogens. Don't even ask about the ones we don't know about... When you see the suffix "-gen" you know you're dealing with something that produces, causes, or generates something. Think of the Book of Genesis, or the beginning of all things. "Carcinoma," the name of a specific type of cancer, comes from the Greek karkinos, which means "crab" and "ulcer," as well as the animal associated with the astrological sign of Cancer. So you can see that carcinogen simply means "generating cancer."
Vocabulary lists containing carcinogen
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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.
See Examples For:
Cadmium is a carcinogen associated particularly with lung cancer, says Rob Chilcott, a retired professor of toxicology.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies the chemical as a probable carcinogen and has linked exposure to bladder cancer, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
Diesel exhaust is a carcinogen and has long been a priority for port communities and others along heavy transport routes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers glyphosate a probable human carcinogen.
From Barron's ● May 12, 2026
Warburg believes that either radiation or a chemical carcinogen acts by destroying the respiration of normal cells, thus depriving them of energy.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Studies have found oil wells can emit carcinogens and are linked to adverse health effects including respiratory issues, headaches, throat irritation and other problems.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
The research also highlights the importance of studying how potential carcinogens affect people at different stages of life.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 29, 2026
The US non-profit organisation Consumer Reports tested samples from ten of the most popular brands of synthetic braiding hair, and found that all of them contained carcinogens, and in some cases, lead.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2025
Two recent studies about the Marshall fire—both of which focused on the lingering carcinogens and contaminants it released into the surrounding neighborhoods—confirm as much.
From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025
In contrast, man has put the vast majority of carcinogens into the environment, and he can, if he wishes, eliminate many of them.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
