pathologize

play

verb pa·thol·o·gize \pə-ˈthä-lə-ˌjīz\

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

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," 19 May 2017
Dederer refuses to pathologize or regret any of this.

— laura kipnis, The Atlantic, "Screw Wisdom," 16 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

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