Definition

Describing something that can cause or promote the formation of tumors in the body.

Example

Certain oncogenic viruses can lead to the development of cancer.

Conversation

Have you heard about the oncogenic effects of certain viruses?

Yeah, I read that they can actually lead to cancer in some cases.

It's really concerning how many people are unaware of these oncogenic risks.

For sure! We need more awareness about health and prevention.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Oncogenic is formed from "onco-" (from Greek "onkos", meaning mass or tumor) and "genic" (from Greek "genes", meaning born of or produced by). The word describes something that produces or is related to tumors.

Memory Tip

Think of 'onkos' meaning a mass or tumor, and 'genic' meaning produced by — this helps you remember that 'oncogenic' refers to something that produces tumors.

Visually Confused Words