precancerous

adjective

pre·​can·​cer·​ous (ˌ)prē-ˈkan(t)s-rəs How to pronounce precancerous (audio)
-ˈkan(t)-sə-
: tending to become cancerous
a precancerous lesion

Examples of precancerous in a Sentence

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.
Follow-up care at the now-familiar UCSF confirmed severe precancerous dysplasia, or abnormal cells that, if left untreated, could develop into cancer. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Then, the lab analyzes the blood to scan for signs of high-risk precancerous polyps. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 July 2026 The researchers also relied on blood tests to measure immune changes, but didn’t analyze precancerous tissue. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 16 July 2026 In a large clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Shield test made by Guardant Health detected 83 percent case of colon cancer, but only 13 percent of advanced precancerous lesions. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for precancerous

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of precancerous was in 1879

Rhymes for precancerous

See All Rhymes for precancerous

Browse Nearby Words

precancel
precancerous
precapitalist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Precancerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precancerous. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

precancerous

adjective
pre·​can·​cer·​ous -ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce precancerous (audio)
: tending to become cancerous : premalignant
a precancerous lesion
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All