melanocyte
noun
me·la·no·cyte
mə-ˈla-nə-ˌsīt
ˈme-lə-nō-
plural melanocytes
: a cell (as of the skin, eye, or hair follicle) that produces melanin
an epidermal melanocyte
The choroid also contains numerous pigment-producing melanocytes that give it a brownish black appearance.—John Hole
Melanocytes, the body's pigment cells, generally do good, not harm. They give our skin its natural color and, when struck by the sun, churn out additional pigment (or melanin) to darken and protect us.—Claudia Kalb
The number of Americans diagnosed with melanoma, a cancer of the melanocytes, or pigmented cells of the skin, has increased steadily for decades.—Gina Kolata
see melanosome compare melanophore
Cite this Entry
“Melanocyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melanocyte. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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