pathogenic

adjective

path·​o·​gen·​ic ˌpa-thə-ˈje-nik 

1

: pathogenetic sense 1

2

: causing or capable of causing disease

pathogenicity

ˌpa-thə-jə-ˈni-sə-tē 

noun

Examples of pathogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The highly pathogenic Eurasian H5N1 strain of bird flu began causing problems for North American poultry and wild birds in February 2022. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, late 2024 and early 2025 saw a sharp resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, in the state's wild birds. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

Clermont County Public Health said two birds delivered to a state laboratory tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), H5, known as the bird flu, according to a news release. —David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2025

Work at the facility includes projects on highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu), white-nose syndrome in bats, and chronic wasting disease in deer and elk. —Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

patho- + -genic, after French pathogénique, German pathogenisch

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pathogenic

• allergenic
• androgenic
• antigenic
• authigenic
• autogenic
• biogenic
• bronchogenic
• chromogenic
• cryogenic
• echogenic
• estrogenic
• isogenic

Kids Definition

pathogenic

adjective

patho·​gen·​ic

ˌpath-ə-ˈjen-ik

: causing or capable of causing disease

Medical Definition

pathogenic

adjective

patho·​gen·​ic -ˈjen-ik 

1

: pathogenetic sense 1

2

: causing or capable of causing disease

pathogenic microorganisms

pathogenically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb