pathological

Also path·o·log·ic

[path-uh-loj-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to pathology, or the science or study of diseases and their causes.

   Research into the pathological origins of alcoholism is ongoing.

2. caused by, indicative of, or involving disease.

   Her white blood cell count had fallen to a pathological level.

3. caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition.

   He is a pathological hoarder.

   They show a pathological lack of concern for the suffering of others.

4. dealing with diseases.

   The neurologist kept a pathological casebook from her practice as a source of examples for lectures.

5. Mathematics.,  designating a phenomenon or object, such as a function, that is logically and correctly defined but has counterintuitive or paradoxical properties.

6. Computers.,  relating to or producing a failed outcome or one that is contrary to what was intended or expected.

   This is just an example of what happens when the algorithm encounters pathological data.

   A pathological input shouldn't break the algorithm.

pathological

/ ˌpæθəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to pathology

2. relating to, involving, or caused by disease

3. informal,  compulsively motivated

   a pathological liar

Other Word Forms

• pathologically adverb
• nonpathologic adjective
• nonpathological adjective
• nonpathologically adverb
• postpathologic adjective
• postpathological adjective
• semipathologic adjective
• semipathological adjective
• semipathologically adverb
• unpathological adjective
• unpathologically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pathological¹

First recorded in 1680–90; from Greek pathologik(ós) ( pathology, -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

What George was experiencing and doing wasn’t morbid, or weird, or pathological, it was . . . good.

From Salon

Finnigan, the retired detective, attended the virtual hearing and perceived no difference in the “pathological lying sociopath” he began studying in 1979.

From Los Angeles Times

Here, food is rarely appetizing, but it is always expressive, a kind of edible theater for the gang’s obsessions, failures and pathological self-regard.

From Salon

He said he regarded Martinez as a “pathological liar,” and one of the most manipulative people he’d met in his long career.

From Los Angeles Times

She was treated with fluids and antibiotics but the consultant said "nothing we were providing would stop the ongoing pathological progress of that viral infection".

From BBC