pathologize

verb

pa·​thol·​o·​gize pə-ˈthä-lə-ˌjīz 

pathologized; pathologizing

transitive verb

: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal

… we ought not to pathologize children who have … different ways of thinking and learning.

—Thomas Armstrong

Examples of pathologize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Calling this a confidence gap pathologizes a reasonable response to a biased environment, placing the burden of correction on women rather than on the organizations doing the selecting. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2026

In the second, the rapists are so numerous that any attempt to pathologize them becomes fruitless. —Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026

The problems are pathologized as individual problems, and then we get sold back solutions. —Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026

The narrative was designed to pathologize an entire immigrant population as a drain on the American treasury and a nest of systemic criminality. —Kyle Varner, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

pathology + -ize

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pathologize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Medical Definition

pathologize

transitive verb

pa·​thol·​o·​gize

variants or chiefly British pathologise

-ˌjīz

pathologized or chiefly British pathologised; pathologizing or chiefly British pathologising

: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal

natural hormonal shifts have been pathologized

—Joyce C. Mills

pathologizing childhood behavior

—Ruth Shalit

pathologization noun

or chiefly British pathologisation

pə-ˌthäl-ə-jə-ˈzā-shən