tumor
7 synonyms for tumor, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — (American spelling) An abnormal mass of tissue that grows in the body, which may be benign or cancerous.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
From Latin tumor ("a swelling"), from tumēre ("to swell") — a distant relative of the English word "thumb."
Full origin of tumor →Frequently asked questions
What does “tumor” mean?
The word “tumor” means (American spelling) An abnormal mass of tissue that grows in the body, which may be benign or cancerous. In plain terms, an abnormal lump or growth of tissue in the body.
How do you pronounce “tumor”?
“Tumor” is pronounced tyoo-muh (/tuː.məɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tumor” in a sentence?
Here is “tumor” used in a sentence: “The scan revealed a small tumor that doctors wanted to monitor closely.”
What part of speech is “tumor”?
“Tumor” is a noun.
Where does the word “tumor” come from?
The word “tumor” comes from Latin. From Latin tumor ("a swelling"), from tumēre ("to swell") — a distant relative of the English word "thumb.".
Is “tumor” a common word?
“Tumor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "tumor" and "tumour"?
"Tumor" and "tumour" refer to exactly the same thing: an abnormal mass of tissue that grows in the body. "Tumor" is the standard American spelling, while "tumour" is the spelling used in British English and most Commonwealth countries.
Is a tumor always cancerous?
No. A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that may be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The word describes the growth itself, not whether it is harmful, so a tumor is not necessarily cancer.
What is the difference between a "tumor" and "cancer"?
A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue, whereas cancer specifically refers to malignant cells that grow uncontrollably and can spread. Because a tumor may be benign or cancerous, the two terms are not interchangeable: not every tumor is cancer.
What is the difference between a "tumor" and a "cyst"?
A tumor is generally a solid mass of abnormal tissue, while a cyst is typically a closed sac filled with fluid, air, or other material. Both can appear as lumps, but they differ in what they contain.
