carcinogen

[ kahr-sin-uh-juh n, -jen, kahr-suh-nuh-jen, -noh- ]
/ kɑrˈsɪn ə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn, ˈkɑr sə nəˌdʒɛn, -noʊ- /

noun Pathology.

any substance or agent that tends to produce a cancer.

Origin of carcinogen

First recorded in 1935–40; carcino- + -gen

OTHER WORDS FROM carcinogen

car·cin·o·gen·ic [kahr-suh-nuh-jen-ik, -noh-] /ˌkɑr sə nəˈdʒɛn ɪk, -noʊ-/, adjective car·ci·no·ge·nic·i·ty [kahr-suh-noh-juh-nis-i-tee] /ˌkɑr sə noʊ dʒəˈnɪs ɪ ti/, noun an·ti·car·cin·o·gen, noun an·ti·car·cin·o·gen·ic, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for carcinogen

British Dictionary definitions for carcinogen

carcinogen
/ (kɑːˈsɪnədʒən, ˈkɑːsɪnəˌdʒɛn) /

noun

pathol any substance that produces cancer

Derived forms of carcinogen

carcinogenic, adjective carcinogenicity, noun

Word Origin for carcinogen

C20: from Greek karkinos cancer + -gen

Medical definitions for carcinogen

carcinogen
[ kär-sĭnə-jən, kärsə-nə-jĕn′ ]

n.

A cancer-causing substance or agent.

Other words from carcinogen

car′cin•o•genic (kär′sə-nə-jĕnĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for carcinogen

carcinogen
[ kär-sĭnə-jən ]

A substance or agent that can cause cells to become cancerous by altering their genetic structure so that they multiply continuously and become malignant. Asbestos, DDT, and tobacco smoke are examples of carcinogens.