variants
also US pathologic
1
: extreme in a way that is not normal or that shows an illness or mental problem
He is a pathological liar/gambler.
She has a pathological fear of heights.
2
medical
: relating to or caused by disease
a pathological condition
pathological changes in the body
3
technical
: of or relating to the study of diseases : relating to pathology
a pathological study
pathological research/findings
Cite this Entry
“Pathological.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/pathological. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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