pathology

noun

pa·​thol·​o·​gy pə-ˈthä-lə-jē 

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

Examples of pathology in a Sentence

the pathology of lung diseases

Recent Examples on the Web

But there’s also a similar pathology and high that comes from going deep undercover for the animal cops and eventually catching their prize, which might be Anson Wong, Michael Van Nostrand or Tommy Crutchfield. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

The underlying pathology begins years before symptoms become apparent, and once symptomatic disease develops, cognitive problems generally continue to progress. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 19 Aug. 2026

That deep dive into the psychology, or maybe pathology, of success resonates far beyond tennis playing. — John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

But no real transformation of the regional order will be possible without addressing the pathologies of its regimes. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & New Latin; Middle French pathologie, borrowed from New Latin pathologia "study of the emotions, study of diseases," from patho- patho- + -logia -logy

Note: Probably formed on the basis of New Latin pathologicus (see pathological). In the sense "study of the emotions," perhaps directly from Greek pathología "study of the passions," attested in Greek-Latin glossaries.

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pathology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

pathology

noun

pa·​thol·​o·​gy pə-ˈthäl-ə-jē 

plural pathologies

1

: the study of diseases and especially of the changes in the body produced by them

2

: something abnormal

especially : the disorders in structure and function that occur in a particular disease

Medical Definition

pathology

noun

pa·​thol·​o·​gy -jē 

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