carcinogen

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

NOUN

cancer-causing agent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

poison toxin

STRONG

killer mutagen

WEAK

deadly chemical health hazard

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Its active ingredient is glyphosate, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a unit of the World Health Organization, identified in 2015 as a probable human carcinogen.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

Some studies have found it is a likely carcinogen, and others concluded it does not pose a true cancer risk for humans.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2026

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies PCE as a probable carcinogen.

From Science Daily • Nov. 12, 2025

TCE is a known carcinogen so also a risk factor for developing cancer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Measured by the standards established by Warburg, most pesticides meet the criterion of the perfect carcinogen too well for comfort.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson