pathogen
noun
path·o·gen
ˈpa-thə-jən 
: a specific causative agent (such as a bacterium or virus) of disease
Examples of pathogen in a Sentence
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The study also found nearly 80 percent of infections were caused by gram-negative bacteria such as , and —pathogens known for their ability to rapidly acquire and spread resistance.
—
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Typically caused by a sensitive immune system — which confuses innocuous bacteria for harmful pathogens — symptoms include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss, anemia, skin changes, arthritis and more.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
If the meat is undercooked, those pathogens may survive, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 29 Sep. 2025
There is evidence that some cows have antibodies to human flu viruses, which suggests the animals have been infected by these pathogens even if the viruses themselves haven’t been detected, Gaunt says.
—Chris Simms, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2025
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Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Typically caused by a sensitive immune system — which confuses innocuous bacteria for harmful pathogens — symptoms include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss, anemia, skin changes, arthritis and more.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
If the meat is undercooked, those pathogens may survive, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 29 Sep. 2025
There is evidence that some cows have antibodies to human flu viruses, which suggests the animals have been infected by these pathogens even if the viruses themselves haven’t been detected, Gaunt says.
—Chris Simms, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathogen
Cite this Entry
“Pathogen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathogen. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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pathogen
noun
patho·gen
ˈpath-ə-jən
: a specific causative agent (as a bacterium or virus) of disease
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