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Definition of carcinogen
carcinogen
/kɑːrˈsɪnədʒən/
car · cin · o · gen
Plural:carcinogens
•Adjective:carcinogenic
carcinogen Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
Syllables
4
carcinogen Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
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WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A substance, radionuclide, or agent capable of causing cancer in living tissue.
Example
"Asbestos was widely used in construction before researchers identified it as a potent carcinogen."
Synonyms
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Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century from the combining form 'carcino-' (from Ancient Greek 'karkinos', meaning 'crab' or 'cancer') and '-gen' (meaning 'something that produces').
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Carcinogen. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/carcinogen