'adenocarcinoma' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'adeno-' meaning 'gland' and 'carcinoma' meaning 'cancerous tumor'.

'adenocarcinoma' was directly borrowed from the Greek term 'adenokarkinoma', which was used in medical contexts to describe glandular tumors.

Initially, it meant 'glandular tumor', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a type of cancer that forms in mucus-secreting glands'.