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pathological

adjective path·o·log·i·cal \ ˌpa-thə-ˈlä-ji-kəl \
variants: or less commonly pathologic play \ˌpa-thə-ˈlä-jik\
|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018
1 : of or relating to pathology
  • pathological research
  • A pathological examination led to the diagnosis.
2 : altered or caused by disease
  • pathological changes in the body
; also : indicative of disease
  • pathological symptoms
3 : being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal
  • a pathological liar
  • pathological fear
—

pathologically

play \ˌpa-thə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See pathological defined for English-language learners

See pathological defined for kids

Examples of pathological in a Sentence

  1. He is a pathological liar.

  2. She has a pathological fear of heights.

  3. pathological changes in the body

Recent Examples of pathological from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pathological.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of pathological

1656

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

PATHOLOGICAL Defined for English Language Learners

pathological

adjective

  • : extreme in a way that is not normal or that shows an illness or mental problem

  • medical : relating to or caused by disease

  • : of or relating to the study of diseases : relating to pathology

Medical Dictionary

pathological

adjective patho·log·i·cal \ ˌpath-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl \
variants: also pathologic play \-ik\
1 : of or relating to pathology
  • a pathological laboratory
2 : altered or caused by disease
  • pathological tissue
; also : indicative of disease
  • pathological lesions
—

pathologically

play \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Learn More about pathological

  1. See words that rhyme with pathological Spanish Central: Translation of pathological Nglish: Translation of pathological for Spanish speakers

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