adenocarcinoma

noun

ad·​e·​no·​car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌa-də-(ˌ)nō-ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce adenocarcinoma (audio)
: a malignant tumor originating in glandular epithelium
adenocarcinomatous
ˌa-də-(ˌ)nō-ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-təs How to pronounce adenocarcinoma (audio)
adjective

Examples of adenocarcinoma 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.
Non-small cell lung carcinomas, such as the adenocarcinoma Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with, tend to respond well to surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy when spotted early. — New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026 The tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin after the surgery. — Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026 Leo was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of non-small cell lung cancer, doctors say. — Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Leo was diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer, during a 90-minute surgery in Rome yesterday wherein doctors removed the lower lobe of one of his lungs, according to medical staff who treated the pontiff. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adenocarcinoma

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Adenocarcinome, from adeno- adeno- + Carcinome carcinoma

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adenocarcinoma was in 1872

Rhymes for adenocarcinoma

See All Rhymes for adenocarcinoma

Browse Nearby Words

adeno-
adenocarcinoma
adenochrome
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adenocarcinoma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adenocarcinoma. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

adenocarcinoma

noun
ad·​e·​no·​car·​ci·​no·​ma -ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə How to pronounce adenocarcinoma (audio)
plural adenocarcinomas also adenocarcinomata -mət-ə How to pronounce adenocarcinoma (audio)
: a malignant tumor originating in glandular epithelium
adenocarcinomatous
-mət-əs How to pronounce adenocarcinoma (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on adenocarcinoma

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adenocarcinoma

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All