adj
cancerous
KAN-suh-ruhs
Cancerous (adj) means Affected by or related to cancer. Example: “The biopsy confirmed the growth was cancerous.”
adj
1
Affected by or related to cancer.
"The biopsy confirmed the growth was cancerous."
"On Sunday at five they operated to remove the cancerous kidney."
— Zadie Smith, The Autograph Man (2002)
2
Figuratively, spreading harmfully like a disease.
"Bureaucratic waste had become cancerous within the department."
How to use cancerous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribing something that is, or behaves like, cancer — malignant or destructively spreading.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more cancerous
- Superlative
- most cancerous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The biopsy confirmed the growth was _____.
Etymology
From Latin cancerosus, from cancer, "tumour", plus the adjective suffix -osus.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cancerous
See all rhymes for cancerous →Frequently asked questions
What does “cancerous” mean?
The word “cancerous” means affected by or related to cancer. In plain terms, describing something that is, or behaves like, cancer — malignant or destructively spreading.
How do you pronounce “cancerous”?
“Cancerous” is pronounced KAN-suh-ruhs (/ˈkænsəɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “cancerous” in a sentence?
Here is “cancerous” used in a sentence: “The biopsy confirmed the growth was cancerous.”
What is the opposite of “cancerous”?
The opposite of “cancerous” — its antonyms — is noncancerous.
What part of speech is “cancerous”?
“Cancerous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cancerous” come from?
The word “cancerous” comes from Latin. From Latin cancerosus, from cancer, "tumour", plus the adjective suffix -osus.
How many meanings does “cancerous” have?
“Cancerous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: affected by or related to cancer.
