What does neoplastic mean?
Neoplastic is a formal medical adjective meaning relating to, involving, or characterized by a neoplasm—that is, an abnormal mass or proliferation of tissue caused by disordered cell growth. It is frequently used in cancer-related contexts, as in neoplastic cells, neoplastic growth, and neoplastic disease. However, neoplastic does not automatically mean cancerous or malignant: benign tumors are also neoplastic, and a clinician or pathologist may need to specify the behavior and origin of the growth. The word is therefore especially useful in technical writing, pathology, oncology, and biomedical research. Its precise meaning depends on context, but the defining idea is always abnormal tissue proliferation rather than ordinary growth, repair, or cellular change.
adjectiveOf, relating to, or characterized by a neoplasm, an abnormal mass of tissue produced by disordered cellular growth. In medical usage, the term may refer to benign as well as malignant tumors and therefore is not, by itself, a synonym for cancerous.
- Relating to or involving a neoplasm, especially an abnormal mass of tissue resulting from disordered cellular growth.
- Characterized by tumor-like or uncontrolled cellular proliferation.
"The biopsy revealed neoplastic cells in the affected tissue."
"The researchers developed a new imaging method for detecting neoplastic tissue."
"Although the growth was neoplastic, further examination showed that it was benign."
Neoplastic is a medical clue: it describes abnormal tissue growth, but unlike cancerous or malignant, it does not necessarily mean the growth is dangerous.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of neoplastic
Neoplastic was formed from the Greek roots neos, meaning “new,” and plastikos, meaning “formative” or “mouldable.” The same roots appear in related medical terms such as neoplasm and neoplasia, referring to the formation or presence of a neoplasm. The modern medical adjective developed as a specialized description of tissue growth associated with neoplasia.
How neoplastic is actually used
Chiefly formal and medical. The term is commonly associated with cancer, but it can describe benign neoplasms as well, so it is more precise than cancerous when the malignancy of a growth has not been established.