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.
Analysts at the firm said the stock, after a huge surge following the success in a trial of its experimental cancer vaccine for melanoma, is now overvalued. — Darla Mercado, Cfp®,davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 Moderna tested its mRNA cancer vaccine in patients with melanoma who had their tumors removed. — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 That hope comes after Moderna and Merck’s stunning success with an mRNA vaccine that lowered the odds of surgically removed melanoma spreading or coming back. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026 Mellencamp, 45, was initially diagnosed with melanoma that spread. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 28 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 7 Sep. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on melanoma

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for melanoma

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about melanoma

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