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noun Uncommon

oncology

ong-KO-luhd-zhee

Oncology (noun) means the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer. Example: “She works in the oncology department of the hospital.”

noun
1
The branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer.
"She works in the oncology department of the hospital."

How to use oncology

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe medical field focused on cancer.

Common pairings
oncology ward pediatric oncology

Word forms

oncologies plural

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She works in the _____ department of the hospital.

Etymology

From Greek onkos ("mass" or "tumor") plus -logy ("study of"); first recorded in English in 1857.

Origin: Greek · First attested 1857

Class of 1857 oncology joined the language around 1857.
See the full Class of 1857 →

Rhymes for oncology

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Frequently asked questions

What does “oncology” mean?

The word “oncology” means the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer. In plain terms, the medical field focused on cancer.

How do you pronounce “oncology”?

“Oncology” is pronounced ong-KO-luhd-zhee (/ɒŋˈkɒləd͡ʒi/ in IPA).

How do you use “oncology” in a sentence?

Here is “oncology” used in a sentence: “She works in the oncology department of the hospital.”

What part of speech is “oncology”?

“Oncology” is a noun.

Where does the word “oncology” come from?

The word “oncology” dates back to around 1857 and comes from Greek. From Greek onkos ("mass" or "tumor") plus -logy ("study of"); first recorded in English in 1857.

Is “oncology” a common word?

“Oncology” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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