Relating to or characterized by dysplasia, the abnormal growth or development of cells within tissues or organs, which can potentially lead to cancer.
From Greek 'dys-' (bad/difficult) and 'plastikos' (formable/moldable). The term entered medical vocabulary in the 19th century to describe tissue growth that was abnormal but not yet malignant.
Dysplastic cells are the body's warning system—pathologists find dysplasia before cancer develops, which is why regular screenings (like Pap smears) save lives by catching these abnormal-but-not-yet-dangerous cells early.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.