carcinogen

IPA/kɑːˈsɪnədʒən/
KK[kɑrsˈɪnədʒən]IPA/kɑːrˈsɪnədʒən/

carcinogen — noun

  • carcinogensingular
  • carcinogensplural

1. Any chemical, radiation, or other agent in the environment, food, or workplace t

1.名詞B2
釋義

Any chemical, radiation, or other agent in the environment, food, or workplace that is known to make normal cells turn into cancer cells.

例句

Asbestos is a well-known carcinogen that was once widely used in building materials.

collocation: well-known carcinogen

Dr. Nkechi's research team identified several carcinogens in the groundwater near the factory.

同義詞
  • cancer-causing agent

    more descriptive and less technical, used in plain-language public health communication

  • mutagen

    a substance that causes genetic mutations; most carcinogens are mutagens, but not all mutagens cause cancer

文法句型

be + known/suspected/classified + as + carcinogen

exposure + to + carcinogen

用法筆記

The noun carcinogen is most common in medical, scientific, and regulatory writing. In everyday conversation, speakers more often use the adjective carcinogenic (e.g., 'carcinogenic chemicals found in grilled meat').

常見錯誤

❌This food contains carcinogenic.
✅This food contains carcinogens.
💡Carcinogenic is an adjective; carcinogen is a noun.
❌Smoking is a carcinogen.
✅The tar in cigarette smoke is a carcinogen.
💡Smoking is an activity; the chemicals inside the smoke are carcinogens.