pathology

[ puh-thol-uh-jee ]

noun

, plural pa·thol·o·gies.

1. the science or the study of the origin, nature, and course of diseases.
2. the conditions and processes of a disease.
3. any deviation from a healthy, normal, or efficient condition.

pathology

/ pəˈθɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of medicine concerned with the cause, origin, and nature of disease, including the changes occurring as a result of disease
2. the manifestations of disease, esp changes occurring in tissues or organs
3. any variant or deviant condition from normal

pathology

/ pə-thŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of disease and its causes, processes, and effects.
2. The physical and mental abnormalities that result from disease or trauma.

pathology

1. A branch of medicine that explores the nature and cause of disease. Pathology also involves the study of bodily changes that occur as the result of disease.

Derived Forms

• paˈthologist, noun

Other Words From

• pa·tholo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pathology¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier pathologia, from Latin, from Greek pathología; patho- ( def ), -logy ( def )

Example Sentences

The story provides an illuminating glimpse into many of the deeper pathologies afflicting the GOP, one that illustrates what’s on the line in Georgia with great clarity.

From Washington Post

The five-page report, acquired by the Los Angeles Times, cited pathology and radiology scans, prescriptions, consent forms, and transcripts from phone interviews.

From Popular-Science

Many viral infections can cause undiagnosed pathology, but severe long-term effects are relatively uncommon.

From No Straight News

Also, the pathology, genetics and response to treatment differ.

From No Straight News

This is because, Recht said, the pathologies in other body parts tend to occupy a greater number of pixels in the MRIs compared to those in the knee, where evidence of damage can be just a few pixels in length.

From Fortune

Borlaug studied forestry, and then obtained a Ph.D. in plant pathology.

From The Daily Beast

With no obvious pathology, physicians and scientists have little to study.

From The Daily Beast

Living with the threat of random death raining down leads to a strange way of life, a pathology of indirect fire.

From The Daily Beast

When Retsky showed the pathology report to William Hrushesky, his treating oncologist, the doctor exclaimed, “Mamma mia.”

From The Daily Beast

This is the much bigger pathology that the partisans on the Court have allowed to evolve.

From The Daily Beast

Epilepsy remains, notwithstanding all the advance in modern nervous pathology, quite as mysterious a disease as it has ever been.

From Project Gutenberg

Hay fever "has a pathology" if urticaria has a pathology, for urticaria, too, subsides and leaves no traces.

From Project Gutenberg

The microscope ceased to be an object of interest, the secrets of pathology and physiology had been mastered.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of these are of a pathological character, but others have no connexion with the domain of pathology.

From Project Gutenberg

The professor of pathology came along, a man who had more the look of a sacristan than of a physician.

From Project Gutenberg