precancerous

[ pree-kan-ser-uhs ]

adjective

1. showing pathological changes that may be preliminary to malignancy.

precancerous

adjective

1. (esp of cells) displaying characteristics that may develop into cancer

Word History and Origins

Origin of precancerous¹

1880–85; pre- ( def ) + cancerous ( def )

Example Sentences

Screening can readily identify precancerous growths called polyps, as well as early-stage cancers.

From No Straight News

The word ‘pre-cancerous’ occurred four times in the text, while ‘precancerous’ occurred twice, both in the index.

From Project Gutenberg