malignancy

noun

ma·​lig·​nan·​cy mə-ˈlig-nən(t)-sē How to pronounce malignancy (audio)
plural malignancies
1
: the quality or state of being malignant
2
a
: exhibition (as by a tumor) of malignant qualities : virulence
b
: a malignant tumor

Examples of malignancy in a Sentence

the malignancy of the tumor The test revealed a malignancy in the patient's chest.
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.
Liquid biopsies must detect cancer early, differentiate between malignancies and avoid the pitfalls of false positives and negatives. Mariya Filipova, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 Giving performances unsparing in their pitifulness and malignancy, respectively, Robinson and Bennett guide viewers through the jaw-dropping, labyrinthine plot all the way to a haunting ending that contributed to the film being banned in a number of cities across the United States. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025 This alone is not necessarily sufficient to create colorectal cancer, but on rare occasions, cells can acquire additional cancer-causing mutations, overflow crypt boundaries and cause malignancies. Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025 Lynch spent his years making films that seeded purity with malignancy, machismo with vulnerability, teenage love with mythic importance. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for malignancy

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of malignancy was in 1601

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Cite this Entry

“Malignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malignancy. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

malignancy

noun
ma·​lig·​nan·​cy mə-ˈlig-nən-sē How to pronounce malignancy (audio)
plural malignancies
1
: the quality or state of being malignant
2
: a malignant tumor

Medical Definition

malignancy

noun
ma·​lig·​nan·​cy mə-ˈlig-nən-sē How to pronounce malignancy (audio)
plural malignancies
1
: the quality or state of being malignant
2
a
: exhibition (as by a tumor) of malignant qualities : virulence
b
: a malignant tumor

More from Merriam-Webster on malignancy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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