pathology

noun

pa·​thol·​o·​gy pə-ˈthä-lə-jē How to pronounce pathology (audio)
plural pathologies
1
: the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
studied plant pathology
2
: something abnormal:
a
: the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
the pathology of pneumonia
b
: deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial
the pathology of wine
c
: deviation giving rise to social ills
connections between these pathologies … and crimeWendy Kaminer
social pathology

Examples of pathology in a Sentence

the pathology of lung diseases
Recent Examples on the Web The study was also small, added Gary Goldenberg, MD, medical and cosmetic dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology and pathology at the Icahn Sinai School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Korin Miller, Health, 26 Feb. 2024 The results of this algorithm have shown significant differences in oxygen saturation levels between various regions of the eye, providing valuable insights into the physiology and pathology of ocular diseases. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 In the report, researchers from the University of Texas and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scrutinized the electronic health records, imaging and pathology reports of 13 of the patients. Barbara Mantel, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024 That means analysts must also be clear-eyed about the very real problems and pathologies foreign policy faced in the past. Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 How the boys died has not been determined by the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office, pending pathology tests. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024 But what if your brain already has signs of beta amyloid or tau — two of the hallmark signs of Alzheimer’s and other brain pathologies? Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 5 Feb. 2024 Following a discovery mammogram and three biopsies, Eggert’s pathology reports came back positive for cancer. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024 Living involves many doubts, anxieties, and confusions, and not every perplexity is a pathology; for any human quandary, there’s likely a philosopher who has wrestled with it in the past few millennia. Nick Romeo, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pathology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & New Latin; Middle French pathologie, borrowed from New Latin pathologia "study of the emotions, study of diseases," from patho- patho- + -logia -logy

Note: Probably formed on the basis of New Latin pathologicus (see pathological). In the sense "study of the emotions," perhaps directly from Greek pathología "study of the passions," attested in Greek-Latin glossaries.

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pathology was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near pathology

Cite this Entry

“Pathology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathology. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pathology

noun
pa·​thol·​o·​gy pə-ˈthäl-ə-jē How to pronounce pathology (audio)
plural pathologies
1
: the study of diseases and especially of the changes in the body produced by them
2
: something abnormal
especially : the disorders in structure and function that occur in a particular disease

Medical Definition

pathology

noun
pa·​thol·​o·​gy -jē How to pronounce pathology (audio)
plural pathologies
1
: the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
2
: the anatomic and physiological deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
3
: a treatise on or compilation of abnormalities
a new pathology of the eye

More from Merriam-Webster on pathology

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