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

Recent Examples on the Web

The new agreement strips that provision, as well as another that required Zambia to share pathogen data for 25 years and health data for 10 years. — Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Since the early 20th century, dairy producers in the US have briefly heated milk to kill the array of dangerous pathogens that naturally dwell in and around cattle and can easily migrate into milk. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026

They are all caused by the same bacterium but differ in how the pathogen enters the body and where the infection manifests. — Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026

There was no evidence that her illness was caused by pathogens linked to her work, Russian health authorities said. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

patho- + -gen, after pathogenic, pathogenesis

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pathogen

noun

patho·​gen

ˈpath-ə-jən

: a germ (as a bacterium or virus) that causes disease

Medical Definition

pathogen

noun

patho·​gen ˈpath-ə-jən 

: a specific causative agent (as a bacterium or virus) of disease