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pathology

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noun pa·thol·o·gy \ pə-ˈthä-lə-jē \

Definition of pathology

plural pathologies
1 :the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
  • studied plant pathology
2 :something abnormal:
a :the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
  • the pathology of pneumonia
b :deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial
  • the pathology of wine
c :deviation giving rise to social ills
  • connections between these pathologies … and crime
  • —Wendy Kaminer
  • social pathology

See pathology defined for English-language learners

See pathology defined for kids

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Examples of pathology in a Sentence

  1. the pathology of lung diseases

Recent Examples of pathology from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of pathology

New Latin pathologia & Middle French pathologie, from Greek pathologia study of the emotions, from path- + -logia -logy

Other Psychology Terms

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

PATHOLOGY Defined for English Language Learners

pathology

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noun

Definition of pathology for English Language Learners

  • : the study of diseases and of the changes that they cause

  • : changes in a person, an animal, or a plant that are caused by disease

Medical Dictionary

pathology

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noun pa·thol·o·gy \ -jē \

medical Definition of pathology

plural pathologies
1 :the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
2 :the anatomic and physiological deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
3 :a treatise on or compilation of abnormalities
  • a new pathology of the eye

Learn More about pathology

  1. See words that rhyme with pathology Spanish Central: Translation of pathology Nglish: Translation of pathology for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pathology for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pathology

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Examples: pathology in a Sentence