melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
plural melanomas also melanomata ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə-tə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
Synonyms of melanomanext
1
: a tumor containing dark pigment
2
: a highly malignant tumor that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

Examples of melanoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Just look at the case reports of people injecting themselves with melanotan and then having their moles subsequently get darker or even developing melanoma. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock died one year ago on August 7, 2025, at the age of 48 from melanoma. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026 The Food and Drug Administration has cleared Replimune’s treatment for advanced melanoma, dealing the biotech a major win after a tumultuous saga of trying to seek approval for the controversial treatment. — Elaine Chen, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026 His team examined the DNA sequences of melanocytes, skin cells that can turn into moles, melanoma or other cancers. — Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for melanoma

Word History

Etymology

melan- (in melanosis, melanotic) + -oma

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of melanoma was in 1838

Phrases Containing melanoma

Rhymes for melanoma

See All Rhymes for melanoma

Browse Nearby Words

melanogenesis
melanoma
Melanophila
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Melanoma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melanoma. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

melanoma

noun
mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
: a usually malignant tumor containing dark pigment

Medical Definition

melanoma

noun
mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
1
: a benign or malignant skin tumor containing dark pigment
2
: a tumor of high malignancy that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

called also malignant melanoma, melanocarcinoma, melanoepithelioma, melanosarcoma

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