Dictionary

pathology

noun pa·thol·o·gy \-jē\

: the study of diseases and of the changes that they cause

: changes in a person, an animal, or a plant that are caused by disease

plural pa·thol·o·gies

Full Definition of PATHOLOGY

1
:  the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
2
:  something abnormal:
a :  the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
b :  deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial
c :  deviation giving rise to social ills <connections between these pathologies … and crime — Wendy Kaminer>
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of PATHOLOGY

New Latin pathologia & Middle French pathologie, from Greek pathologia study of the emotions, from path- + -logia -logy
First Known Use: 1611

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal
Medical Dictionary

pathology

noun pa·thol·o·gy \-jē\
plural pa·thol·o·gies

Medical Definition of PATHOLOGY

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>

Browse

4 ENTRIES FOUND:
Next Word in the Dictionary: pathometerPrevious Word in the Dictionary: pathologizeAll Words Near: pathology
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears