# mets

/ˈmɛts/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mets
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. cancer spread

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Technical

a short word for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

For teachers: Abbreviation for metastases. Used colloquially among medical professionals to describe secondary tumours.

- The doctor checked the scan to see if there were any mets in the liver.
- The oncologist noted that while the primary tumour had shrunk, the patient unfortunately presented with new bone mets in the spinal column.

Usage: Usually plural; almost exclusively used in clinical settings between colleagues.

Teaching tip: This is highly specialised medical jargon. While common in hospitals, it may sound insensitive if used when speaking directly to a patient or their family.

## Examples

- The nurse mets the medication to the patient every morning.
- In the emergency room, the staff quickly mets the necessary fluids to stabilize the patient's condition.
- Historical records indicate that the physician mets a variety of herbal tinctures to the soldiers, though their efficacy remained largely unproven by modern standards.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.