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pathology

n.
US //pəˈθɑɫədʒi// UK //pæθˈɒlədʒi// pathol·o·gy
  1. 1 medical study (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical Medicine

    the branch of medicine that studies the causes and effects of diseases.

    the scientific study of the nature, causes, and development of disease through the examination of organs, tissues, and bodily fluids.

    Example

    She decided to specialize in pathology to help doctors identify rare illnesses.

    Example

    Advances in molecular pathology have allowed clinicians to identify genetic markers that predict how a patient will respond to specific chemotherapy treatments.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the field of study.
  2. 2 signs of disease (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    the physical or mental changes caused by a specific disease.

    the anatomical or functional manifestations of a disease; a specific abnormality or deviation from a healthy state.

    Example

    The doctor examined the scan to see the pathology of the tumor.

    Example

    The autopsy revealed a complex pathology in the lungs that had been masked by the patient's secondary infections.

    Usage

    Can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific instances of abnormality.
  3. 3 social or mental problem (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Academic Literary

    a pattern of behavior or a social condition that is considered unhealthy or broken.

    a social or psychological condition viewed as a functional disorder or a departure from normal health.

    Example

    The book explores the social pathology that leads to high crime rates in cities.

    Example

    The essay argues that the widespread corruption was not an isolated incident but a symptom of a deeper political pathology within the administration.

    Teacher's tip

    In this sense, the word is often used metaphorically to describe problems in society or government as if they were biological diseases.
Origin

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

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Last updated June 20, 2026