pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy
pə-ˈthä-lə-jē 
plural pathologies
1
: the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
studied plant pathology
2
: something abnormal:
a
: the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
the pathology of pneumonia
b
: deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial
the pathology of wine
c
: deviation giving rise to social ills
connections between these pathologies … and crime—
Wendy Kaminer
Wendy Kaminersocial pathology
Examples of pathology in a Sentence
the pathology of lung diseases
Recent Examples on the Web
The campus has degree programs for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 4 Nov. 2024
An indication of a heart pathology may be detected by applying a predictive algorithm to at least the heart activity.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 28 Sep. 2024
Checkpoints are the part of a normally functioning immune system that act as a set of brakes to turn down the system’s response once an infection or other pathology such as cancer has been defeated.
—Linda Carroll, TIME, 5 Sep. 2024
Editor's note: The spelling of Kayla Hertzfeld's name and her job title, speech pathology assistant, were corrected on Oct. 1, 2024, the day of initial publication for this article.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pathology 
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Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 4 Nov. 2024
An indication of a heart pathology may be detected by applying a predictive algorithm to at least the heart activity.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 28 Sep. 2024
Checkpoints are the part of a normally functioning immune system that act as a set of brakes to turn down the system’s response once an infection or other pathology such as cancer has been defeated.
—Linda Carroll, TIME, 5 Sep. 2024
Editor's note: The spelling of Kayla Hertzfeld's name and her job title, speech pathology assistant, were corrected on Oct. 1, 2024, the day of initial publication for this article.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pathology
Dictionary Entries Near pathology
Cite this Entry
“Pathology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathology. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy
pə-ˈthäl-ə-jē
plural pathologies
1
: the study of diseases and especially of the changes in the body produced by them
2
: something abnormal
especially
: the disorders in structure and function that occur in a particular disease
Medical Definition
pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy
-jē
plural pathologies
1
: the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
2
: the anatomic and physiological deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
3
: a treatise on or compilation of abnormalities
a new pathology of the eye
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