Pathology

/pəˈθɒləd͡ʒi/ noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences; now usually and especially in the clinical and academic medicine subsenses defined below.; The clinical biomedical specialty that provides microscopy and other laboratory services to clinicians (e.g., cytology, histology, cytopathology, histopathology, cytometry).
  • Grammar: pathology is listed as noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: abnormal condition, abnormality, acute disease, affection.
  • Useful contrasts: french physiologie, german physiologie, mammalian physiology.
  • Usage evidence: Fascism is a social pathology to be eradicated at all costs.

How to use "pathology"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pathology" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pathology" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pathology" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pathology" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "pathology" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "abnormal condition" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "pathology", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences; now usually and especially in the clinical and academic medicine subsenses defined below.; The clinical biomedical specialty that provides microscopy and other laboratory services to clinicians (e.g., cytology, histology, cytopathology, histopathology, cytometry). uncountable, usually

    "The surgeon sent a specimen of the cyst to the hospital's pathology department for staining and analysis to determine its histologic subtype."

  2. 2
    the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases wordnet
  3. 3
    The study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences; now usually and especially in the clinical and academic medicine subsenses defined below.; The academic biomedical specialty that advances the aspects of the biomedical sciences that allow for those clinical applications and their advancements over time. literary, uncountable, usually

    "Those three pioneering pathologists went on to become leaders in building the pathology departments at several universities."

  4. 4
    any deviation from a healthy or normal condition wordnet
  5. 5
    The study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences; now usually and especially in the clinical and academic medicine subsenses defined below.; Any of several interrelated scientific disciplines that advance the aspects of the life sciences that allow for such technological applications and their advancements over time. uncountable, usually

    "the plant pathology and vertebrate pathology programs of the university's biology department"

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    Pathosis: any deviation from a healthy or normal structure or function; abnormality; illness or malformation. uncountable, usually

    "Some sort of renal pathology was suspected, but imaging and even biopsy found no discernible pathology, glomerular or otherwise."

Synonyms

All synonyms
abnormal conditionabnormalityacute diseaseaffectionafflictionailment

Antonyms

french physiologiegerman physiologiemammalian physiologyportuguese fisiologia

Example

"Fascism is a social pathology to be eradicated at all costs."

Common questions

What does "pathology" mean?

The study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences; now usually and especially in the clinical and academic medicine subsenses defined below.; The clinical biomedical specialty that provides microscopy and other laboratory services to clinicians (e.g., cytology, histology, cytopathology, histopathology, cytometry).

What is a synonym for "pathology"?

Common synonyms include: abnormal condition, abnormality, acute disease, affection, affliction, ailment.

How do you use "pathology" in a sentence?

Fascism is a social pathology to be eradicated at all costs.

How do you pronounce "pathology"?

Pronounced /pəˈθɒləd͡ʒi/.

Etymology

From French pathologie, from Ancient Greek πάθος (páthos, “disease”) and -λογία (-logía, “study of”).

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