pathogen
noun
any disease-producing agent, especially a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism.
pathogens
-
pluralof pathogen.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Climate change and environmental disturbance have aided an increasing creep of the territories ticks inhabit—along with the viruses, bacteria, and pathogens they carry.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
"Arginine supplementation could be readily tested in patients receiving immunotherapies or given to high-risk populations exposed to viral pathogens," Tavazoie suggests.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026
Then there are those that get sick, or become susceptible to pathogens fueled by the increasing temperatures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
“Cyclospora is one of the most notoriously difficult pathogens to detect in agricultural matrices.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Normally, it's not an ideal way to grow crops, because it spreads disease: Human waste has pathogens in it that, you guessed it, infect humans.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
