Word
cancerous
Phoneticscan·cer·ous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkænsɝəs/
UK/kˈænsəɹəs/
Definition
adj. describing cells or growths that are harmful and can spread through the body. It is also used to describe something that is very bad and spreads quickly, like a toxic attitude.
adj. relating to or affected by a malignant growth or tumor. In a figurative sense, it describes something harmful or destructive that spreads uncontrollably within a system or group.
Examples
“The doctor removed a cancerous growth from the patient's arm.”
“The lab results confirmed that the tissue was cancerous and required immediate treatment to prevent it from spreading.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor removed a cancerous growth from the patient's arm.”
contextual
“The lab results confirmed that the tissue was cancerous and required immediate treatment to prevent it from spreading.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'is' or 'became', or attributively before a noun.
Real-World Examples
“She had surgery to remove the cancerous cells plus lymph nodes from her abdomen and pelvis to stop it spreading.” “They observed similar pockets of synchronized pulsing in every cell type, especially in the most cancerous cells.” Etymology
From Middle English cancerous, from Latin cancerōsus, from cancer (“crab; tumor, cancer”) + -ōsus (adjective-forming suffix). By surface analysis, cancer + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/cancerous