pathogen

[ path-uh-juhn, ‑-jen ]

noun

1. any disease-producing agent, especially a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism.

pathogen

/ ˈpæθəˌdʒɛn; ˈpæθəˌdʒiːn /

noun

1. any agent that can cause disease

pathogen

/ păth′ə-jən /

1. An agent that causes infection or disease, especially a microorganism, such as a bacterium or protozoan, or a virus.
2. See Note at germ

pathogen

1. A disease-causing agent. Microorganisms , viruses , and toxins are examples of pathogens.

Other Words From

• anti·patho·gen noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pathogen¹

First recorded in 1940–45; patho- + -gen

Example Sentences

Plasma contains antibodies that people have built against the pathogen.

From Science News

The spread of this type of vaccine would be limited, but in Nuismer and Bull’s models, transferable vaccines could achieve high enough levels of immunization to potentially eradicate pathogens in wild populations.

From Quanta Magazine

Unlike the pathogens the T-cells are used to hunting, tumor cells are not that dissimilar to the body’s other cells and often share many antigens.

From Singularity Hub 

That genetic trait is their Achilles’ heel, and that pathogen is the one thing that can take advantage of it.

From Quanta Magazine

These observations, however, might not apply to the novel pathogen.

From Quanta Magazine

This last capability of the virus appears to be how the pathogen is spreading between farms in different states.

From The Daily Beast

Most human infections are contracted by inhaling, ingesting, or inoculating a pathogen.

From The Daily Beast

The bacterium is technically a pathogen, so the USDA looks at it.

From The Daily Beast

“The mosquito is really wily, but the pathogen is even more wily,” she says.

From The Daily Beast

Malaria is a shape-shifter, like HIV, always reshuffling the deck to make a new pathogen.

From The Daily Beast

Pathogen′esis, Pathog′eny, mode of production or development of disease.

From Project Gutenberg

Pathogenet′ic, Pathogen′ic, Pathog′enous, producing disease.

From Project Gutenberg

From these field and laboratory studies, it was concluded that the wilting and stunting were not produced by a plant pathogen.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ailment
• disease
• germ
• illness
• infection
• microbe
• microorganism
• sickness