carcinogenic

adjective

car·​ci·​no·​gen·​ic ˌkär-sə-nō-ˈje-nik How to pronounce carcinogenic (audio)
: producing or tending to produce cancer
a carcinogenic substance/compound/chemical
a chemical that has been found to have carcinogenic effects
Removing the carcinogenic mineral—used for years as a pipe and tank insulator—is a highly regulated process …Jefferson Kolle
carcinogenically adverb
The plant derivatives … are less carcinogenically active than those from the fossil fuels. Peter Bernfeld
carcinogenicity noun
The scientist, Dr. Bruce Ames, of the University of California at Berkeley, was the developer of the most widely used rapid laboratory test … for detecting the probable carcinogenicity of chemicals. Philip M. Boffey

Did you know?

It sometimes seems as if the list of carcinogenic substances gets longer every day. A substance such as a food additive that's been in common use for years may unexpectedly show signs of being carcinogenic in laboratory experiments. When that happens, the suspected carcinogen will often have to be withdrawn from the market. When a building material like asbestos turns out to be a carcinogen, it may also have to be physically removed from buildings. English has hundreds of other scientific words ending in -genic (such as allergenic), and in almost all of them the ending means "causing".

Examples of carcinogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Eleven years later, researchers employed by the Forest Service published a paper that found that smoke from prescribed burns contained elevated levels of carbon monoxide and particulate matter, including benzene and formaldehyde, both of which are carcinogenic. ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024 Both the International Agency for Cancer Research and the EPA have determined that benzene is carcinogenic to humans. Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 On top of those side effects, animal studies and lab research have shown that the gas is carcinogenic. Korin Miller, Verywell Health, 2 Feb. 2024 Vinyl chloride burning can create dioxins, which are carcinogenic, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Alex Presha, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2024 Foam inside the machines could crumble in heat and humidity, sending potentially carcinogenic materials into the lungs of patients. Liz Moughon, ProPublica, 22 Jan. 2024 The International Agency for Cancer Research looks at whether certain compounds, organisms or agents are carcinogenic. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 13 July 2023 Though no official study has confirmed a correlation between the two, Environmental Protection Agency assessments reveal that Echo Heights residents are abnormally exposed to hazardous waste and carcinogenic air toxins. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 But in a troubling sign, the researchers discovered that the fish-eating apex predators are transferring carcinogenic PAHs to their unborn calves, according to the paper published Dec. 19 in the journal Scientific Reports. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carcinogenic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carcinogenic was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near carcinogenic

Cite this Entry

“Carcinogenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcinogenic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

carcinogenic

adjective
car·​ci·​no·​gen·​ic ˌkärs-ᵊn-ō-ˈjen-ik How to pronounce carcinogenic (audio)
: producing or tending to produce cancer
the carcinogenic action of certain chemicalsJournal of the American Medical Association
carcinogenically adverb
carcinogenicity noun
plural carcinogenicities

More from Merriam-Webster on carcinogenic

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