pathogenic

adjective

path·​o·​gen·​ic ˌpa-thə-ˈje-nik How to pronounce pathogenic (audio)
1
2
: causing or capable of causing disease
pathogenicity noun

Examples of pathogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has forced U.S. farmers to cull 168 million birds since the outbreak began in February 2022. Donnelle Eller, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025 The current circulating strain of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza is particularly deadly in cats—around two thirds of those infected will die, says Jane Sykes, a veterinarian at the University of California, Davis, who specializes in infectious diseases in cats and small dogs. Jude Coleman, Scientific American, 14 Mar. 2025 The big picture: The highly pathogenic avian influenza has led to tens of millions of chickens being culled, triggering shortages and price spikes. Nathan Bomey, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025 Comparative impact of sunlight and salinity on human pathogenic virus survival in river, estuarine, and marine water microcosms PubMed. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pathogenic

Word History

Etymology

patho- + -genic, after French pathogénique, German pathogenisch

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pathogenic was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pathogenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathogenic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

pathogenic

adjective
patho·​gen·​ic
ˌpath-ə-ˈjen-ik
: causing or capable of causing disease

Medical Definition

pathogenic

adjective
patho·​gen·​ic -ˈjen-ik How to pronounce pathogenic (audio)
1
2
: causing or capable of causing disease
pathogenic microorganisms
pathogenically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pathogenic

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