pathologize

verb pa·thol·o·gize \ pə-ˈthä-lə-ˌjīz \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Definition of pathologize

pathologized; pathologizing

transitive verb

: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal

natural hormonal shifts have been pathologized
—Joyce C. Mills

Recent Examples of pathologize from the Web

The opportunity to pathologize certain behaviors is appealing.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "Why Is There a ‘Gaming Disorder’ But No ‘Smartphone Disorder?’," 28 June 2018
But the medical community used other terms in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as the DSM, to pathologize gender nonconformity, including transsexualism and gender identity disorder.

— emanuella grinberg, CNN, "What is medically necessary treatment for gender-affirming health care?," 31 May 2018
Yet many mental-health experts say that to pathologize this conduct is to fail to deal with the underlying causes.

— elizabeth bernstein, WSJ, "Think You’re Addicted to Sex? Here Are Treatment Options," 18 Dec. 2017
Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize.

— sloane crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017
Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize.

— sloane crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017
Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize.

— sloane crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017
Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize.

— sloane crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017
Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize.

— sloane crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017

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

First Known Use of pathologize

1649

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

pathologize

transitive verb pa·thol·o·gize

variants: or chiefly British pathologise \-ˌjīz\

medical Definition of pathologize

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

or chiefly British pathologisation \pə-ˌthäl-ə-jə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pathologize? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

pathologize

Definition of pathologize

Recent Examples of pathologize from the Web

First Known Use of pathologize

Medical Dictionary

pathologize

medical Definition of pathologize

pathologization

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

nonchalant

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Banana Republic': A History

The Many Plurals of 'Octopus'

Words We're Watching: 'Low-key'

The Difference Between Dependent and Independent Clauses

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

The Eponym Quiz

Semantic Drift Quiz

Name That Thing

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Trending: Brennan Questions Trump's 'Probity'

'Banana Republic': A History

The Eponym Quiz

Come Back Here With That: 10 Fun Words for Stealing

Ghost Word

pathologize

Definition of pathologize

Recent Examples of pathologize from the Web

First Known Use of pathologize

Medical Dictionary

pathologize

medical Definition of pathologize

pathologization

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Trending: Brennan Questions Trump's 'Probity'

'Banana Republic': A History

The Eponym Quiz

Come Back Here With That: 10 Fun Words for Stealing

Ghost Word