pathogenic

adjective

path·​o·​gen·​ic ˌpa-thə-ˈje-nik How to pronounce pathogenic (audio)
1
2
: causing or capable of causing disease
pathogenicity noun

Examples of pathogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is caused by a virus that can result in serious illness and death in birds and mammals. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public safety warning following the discovery of pathogenic microorganisms in two specific ink lots, which could lead to serious infections and permanent skin damage if used. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 The cost of eggs has largely been impacted by the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, outbreak, which has led to more than 130 million poultry across the U.S. to be affected, USA TODAY previously reported. Jenny Porter Tilley, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Mar. 2025 In the first two months of 2025, tens of million of birds were affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza across 39 states, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pathogenic

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pathogenic was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pathogenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathogenic. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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 How to pronounce pathogenic (audio)
1
2
: causing or capable of causing disease
pathogenic microorganisms
pathogenically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pathogenic

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