pathogen

noun

path·​o·​gen ˈpa-thə-jən How to pronounce pathogen (audio)
: a specific causative agent (such as a bacterium or virus) of disease

Examples of pathogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Children are especially vulnerable to this kind of reaction, said Oxford University immunologist Astrid Iversen during the press conference, because their immune systems are still learning how to respond to pathogens. ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026 These pathogens can sicken swimmers with diseases of the skin, eyes, ears and respiratory tract. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 Tracing plague’s ancient path is crucial to understand how pathogens evolve over time — especially given that plague cases still occur each year, Willerslev said. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 In a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature, researchers recovered genetic fragments of the plague-causing pathogen, Yersinia pestis, in more than a third of the individuals — marking two phases of an outbreak, starting about 5,500 years ago. Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pathogen

Word History

Etymology

patho- + -gen, after pathogenic, pathogenesis

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pathogen was in 1880

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pathogen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathogen. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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 How to pronounce pathogen (audio)
: a specific causative agent (as a bacterium or virus) of disease

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