mesothelioma

noun

me·​so·​the·​li·​o·​ma ˌme-zə-ˌthē-lē-ˈō-mə How to pronounce mesothelioma (audio)
ˌmē-, 
-sə-
plural mesotheliomas also mesotheliomata ˌme-zə-ˌthē-lē-ˈō-mə-tə How to pronounce mesothelioma (audio)
ˌmē-, 
-sə-
: a usually malignant tumor derived from mesothelial tissue (such as that lining the peritoneum or pleura)

Examples of mesothelioma in a Sentence

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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.
To back up, Jay’s decision to seek out the remains of his dead father Mitt Gardiner (Josh Brolin), who has committed suicide by drowning in the Pacific Ocean following a diagnosis of mesothelioma, is what really landed him in this situation. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 His death from mesothelioma leaves plenty for Jay to process. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026 He was diagnosed in 2016, at age 38, with mesothelioma of his abdominal wall. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026 The substance can cause lung scarring, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer that develops in the tissues lining the lungs, heart and abdomen. — Miceala Morano, Arkansas Online, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mesothelioma

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mesothelioma was circa 1899

Rhymes for mesothelioma

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Browse Nearby Words

mesothelial
mesothelioma
mesothelium
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Cite this Entry

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

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Medical Definition

mesothelioma

noun
me·​so·​the·​li·​o·​ma ˌmez-ə-ˌthē-lē-ˈō-mə, ˌmēz-, ˌmēs-, ˌmes- How to pronounce mesothelioma (audio)
plural mesotheliomas also mesotheliomata -mət-ə How to pronounce mesothelioma (audio)
: a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue (as that lining the peritoneum or pleura)

More from Merriam-Webster on mesothelioma

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mesothelioma

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