English Reference

Word

metastatic

Phoneticsmetastat·ic

US/ˌmɛtəˈstætɪk/

UK/mˌɛtəstˈætɪk/

Definition

adj. describing cancer that has spread from its original location to other parts of the body. It is a serious stage of the disease.

adj. relating to or caused by the spread of cancer from its primary site to other parts of the body. Often used to describe the stage of the disease rather than the cancer itself.

Examples

“The doctor explained that the cancer was now metastatic.”

“Early detection of metastatic cells in the lymph nodes can significantly improve the patient's long-term survival rates.”

“While localized tumors can often be surgically removed, metastatic cancer requires a systemic approach involving chemotherapy and targeted radiation to address the spread throughout the circulatory system.”

Examples

simple

“The doctor explained that the cancer was now metastatic.”

contextual

“Early detection of metastatic cells in the lymph nodes can significantly improve the patient's long-term survival rates.”

complex

“While localized tumors can often be surgically removed, metastatic cancer requires a systemic approach involving chemotherapy and targeted radiation to address the spread throughout the circulatory system.”

Real-World Examples

“The company-funded study enrolled 500 patients whose metastatic, or spreading, cancer had stopped responding to prior treatment.”
The Guardian · 26 Aug 2026
“For patients who were diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer between 2015 and 2021, about 97% died within five years of their diagnosis.”
The Conversation · 26 Aug 2026

Word family

metastasisNounmetastaticAdjective

Domain

Medicine

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/metastatic

English Reference