Word
oncology
Phoneticson·col·o·gy
US/ɑŋˈkɑɫədʒi/
UK/ɒnkˈɒlədʒi/
Definition
n. the branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of cancer. Doctors in this field help patients manage their illness through surgery, medicine, or other therapies.
n. the branch of medical science concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tumours and cancer.
Examples
“She decided to specialize in oncology after finishing medical school.”
“The hospital's oncology department is world-renowned for its innovative approach to treating rare blood cancers.”
“Advances in molecular oncology have allowed clinicians to develop targeted therapies that attack specific genetic mutations within a tumour while sparing healthy surrounding tissue.”
Examples
simple
“She decided to specialize in oncology after finishing medical school.”
contextual
“The hospital's oncology department is world-renowned for its innovative approach to treating rare blood cancers.”
complex
“Advances in molecular oncology have allowed clinicians to develop targeted therapies that attack specific genetic mutations within a tumour while sparing healthy surrounding tissue.”
Usage
Typically used without an article when referring to the field of study; often used as a modifier in phrases like 'oncology ward' or 'oncology nurse'.
Real-World Examples
“It found staff failings at the hospital amounted to a "betrayal of patient trust" and also questioned why oncology pharmacy teams did not challenge patients receiving oral chemotherapy continuously for 10 to 15 years.” “The researchers expect to present the results at a global oncology meeting this year.” Etymology
First attested 1857. By surface analysis, onco- + -logy, which see for more.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/oncology