Meanings
nounoncogene (plural oncogenes)
plural oncogenes
- biologyAny gene that contributes to the conversion of a normal cell into a cancerous cell when mutated or expressed at high levels.
It was obvious from the start what kinds of genes oncogenes would turn out to be – genes that encourage cells to grow.
1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 234
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna gene that disposes normal cells to change into cancerous tumor cells
Similar
transforming gene
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekὄγκος (ónkos)
- New Latinonco-
- Englishonco-
- Englishgene
- Englishoncogene
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 癌基因, 致癌基因
- 癌基因 (áijīyīn)gene
- 致癌基因 (zhì'ái jīyīn)gene
Czech onkogen
- onkogengene
Finnish syöpägeeni, onkogeeni
- syöpägeenigene
- onkogeenigene
French oncogène
- oncogènegene
Hungarian onkogén
- onkogéngene
Italian oncogene
- oncogenegene
Japanese 癌遺伝子
- 癌遺伝子 (gan idenshi)gene
Portuguese oncogene
- oncogenegene
Spanish oncogén
- oncogéngene
Cite this entry
APA
oncogene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oncogene
MLA
“oncogene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oncogene. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oncogene,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oncogene.
Source: oncogene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.