pathogenesis
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pathogenesis
From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; see origin at patho-, -genesis
Explanation
The medical term pathogenesis means the source of a disease. Your doctor might guess that the pathogenesis of your ear infection was a bad cold that caused congestion and swelling. If you ask your doctor, "How did I get chickenpox?" you're asking about the pathogenesis of an illness that gave you an itchy rash and a high fever. The word stems from the Greek pathos, "suffering or disease," and genesis, "origin." In medical terms, pathogenesis lays out the biological progression of a disease from its origin to the symptoms it caused that sent you to your doctor's office.
Vocabulary lists containing pathogenesis
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.
"It provides new insights into this disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets for future research."
From Science Daily ● Mar. 7, 2026
These details can reveal how molecular interactions contribute to cellular functions, which is critical for advancing targeted therapies and understanding disease pathogenesis.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 26, 2024
"We created a model of hibernation, which is so critical to understanding of the pathogenesis of the infection."
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2024
Among the various factors contributing to the pathogenesis of this condition is the loss of the blood-brain barrier, a highly selective protective cellular barrier that prevents harmful chemicals from entering the brain through the blood.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024
Now this very "key-note" appears in the Allentown pathogenesis, but so unobtrusively as to show most conclusively that the prover who furnished it did not recognize its singular import and value.
From New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies: Papers by Many Writers by Edward Pollock Anshutz
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