Definition

A type of skin cancer that develops from cells that produce pigment, often appearing as a dark spot or growth on the skin.

Example

The doctor diagnosed her with melanoma after examining the unusual mole on her arm.

Conversation

Did you hear about the new health guidelines regarding skin checks?

Yeah, I read that they want to catch melanoma early.

It's scary how quickly melanoma can spread if you don't catch it in time.

Totally! We should make sure to get our skin checked regularly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Melanoma is formed from "melano-" (from Greek "melas", meaning black) and "-oma" (from Greek "oma", meaning tumor or swelling). The word refers to a type of tumor that is characterized by dark pigmentation, typically associated with skin cancer.

Memory Tip

Think of 'melas' meaning black, which helps you remember that 'melanoma' refers to a dark-colored tumor.

Visually Confused Words