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

Derived Forms

• pathologist
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• pathologies
  plural

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

To administer genetic medicines against the tau protein tangles that are Alzheimer’s’ other main pathology, doctors must inject them directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 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

"The evidence gathered during the investigation into his untimely death revealed a much more sinister pathology," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Backing off, cleaning up mechanics and strengthening the right muscles early can help me prevent a minor irritation from progressing to tendinitis, rotator-cuff pathology or a more-persistent overuse injury.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

When Nancy Jaax first applied to join the pathology group at the Institute, the colonel in charge of it didn’t want to accept her.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston