pathology

American  

[puh-thol-uh-jee] / pəˈθɒl ə dʒi /

noun

pathologies plural

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.

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pathology British  

/ 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

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pathology Scientific  

/ 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.

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pathology Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• pathologist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pathology

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

Explanation

Pathology is the medical term for the way a disease works. A tumor is removed by a doctor trained in surgery, but you need a doctor trained in pathology to tell you if the tumor is cancer. Pathology derives from the Greek pathos "suffering" and ology "study of"––to give us "the study of disease," but often pathology means the disease's behavior––the cancer pathology is to take over healthy cells and grow cancerous tumors. We also use pathology to describe abnormal conditions that aren’t really diseases, like the pathology of Hollywood stars who live their lives in public and become obsessed with fitness.

Example Sentences

“The outlook for growth in the pathology sector remains challenging—we continue to flag a decrease in FY 2026 net pathology funding of up to A$90 million,” Jefferies says.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

"Using PTP1B inhibitors that target multiple aspects of the pathology, including Aβ clearance, might provide an additional impact," says Ribeiro Alves.

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2026

But the shift came at USC where he is currently pursuing a master’s program in pathology.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Unequal influence is not a pathology of democracy.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

He briefly tried to hide in pathology, where the people had the decency to be dead, but that didn’t work.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis