pathogen

[ path-uh-juh n, ‐jen ]
/ ˈpæθ ə dʒən, ‐ˌdʒɛn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR pathogen ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any disease-producing agent, especially a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism.

Origin of pathogen

First recorded in 1940–45; patho- + -gen

OTHER WORDS FROM pathogen

an·ti·path·o·gen, noun

Words nearby pathogen

patho-, pathobiology, pathoclisis, pathocure, pathoformic, pathogen, pathogenesis, pathogenic, pathogenic occlusion, pathogenicity, pathognomonic

Words related to pathogen

microorganism, germ, virus, bug, bacterium, bacillus, microbe, parasite, illness, ailment, sickness, disease, infection, plague, antibody, crud, pathogens, germs, bacilli

Example sentences from the Web for pathogen

British Dictionary definitions for pathogen

pathogen

pathogene (ˈpæθəˌdʒiːn)

/ (ˈpæθəˌdʒɛn) /

noun

any agent that can cause disease

Medical definitions for pathogen

pathogen
[ păth′ə-jən ]

n.

An agent that causes disease, especially a living microorganism such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus.

Scientific definitions for pathogen

pathogen
[ păth′ə-jən ]

An agent that causes infection or disease, especially a microorganism, such as a bacterium or protozoan, or a virus. See Note at germ.

Cultural definitions for pathogen

pathogen
[ (path-uh-juhn) ]

A disease-causing agent. Microorganisms, viruses, and toxins are examples of pathogens.