pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy pə-ˈthä-lə-jē 
plural pathologies
1
: the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
studied plant pathology
2
: something abnormal:
a
: the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
the pathology of pneumonia
b
: deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial
the pathology of wine
c
: deviation giving rise to social ills
connections between these pathologies … and crime
Wendy Kaminer
Wendy Kaminersocial pathology
Example Sentences
the pathology of lung diseases
Recent Examples on the Web The tissue was sent to pathology, where an analysis didn’t find the biopsy site, surgical staples or the 8 millimeter mass that showed up in a prior scan. Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2022 His grandfather, Stephen Baird, is a UC San Diego professor emeritus of pathology, and this summer Noah has been observing research work involving bacteria and transport proteins in a UCSD molecular lab. San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Tissue samples collected and sent out for pathology could help determine what happened, experts said. Steve Annear, BostonGlobe.com, 6 July 2022 Genomic analysis of samples from the current outbreak suggests that the virus has been spreading among people for years, according to Geoffrey Smith, professor of pathology at the University of Cambridge and an expert in poxviruses. Denise Roland, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 Benjamin Pinsky is associate professor of pathology and medicine, and the director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory for Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. Abraar Karan, Scientific American, 13 July 2022 Brigham Young University’s speech pathology program will keep its accreditation, despite concerns about discrimination after the school canceled services for transgender clients seeking gender-affirming voice therapy. Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 July 2022 Emilia Marin, a speech pathology clerk at Robb Elementary School, filed a similar petition Thursday asking the court to force Daniel Defense officials to sit for a deposition and to produce materials. Anna Kaplan, Forbes, 4 June 2022 Tim Inglis is the head of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Western Australia. Frances Vinall, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Apr. 2022 See More
Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2022 His grandfather, Stephen Baird, is a UC San Diego professor emeritus of pathology, and this summer Noah has been observing research work involving bacteria and transport proteins in a UCSD molecular lab. San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Tissue samples collected and sent out for pathology could help determine what happened, experts said. Steve Annear, BostonGlobe.com, 6 July 2022 Genomic analysis of samples from the current outbreak suggests that the virus has been spreading among people for years, according to Geoffrey Smith, professor of pathology at the University of Cambridge and an expert in poxviruses. Denise Roland, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 Benjamin Pinsky is associate professor of pathology and medicine, and the director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory for Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. Abraar Karan, Scientific American, 13 July 2022 Brigham Young University’s speech pathology program will keep its accreditation, despite concerns about discrimination after the school canceled services for transgender clients seeking gender-affirming voice therapy. Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 July 2022 Emilia Marin, a speech pathology clerk at Robb Elementary School, filed a similar petition Thursday asking the court to force Daniel Defense officials to sit for a deposition and to produce materials. Anna Kaplan, Forbes, 4 June 2022 Tim Inglis is the head of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Western Australia. Frances Vinall, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French & New Latin; Middle French pathologie, borrowed from New Latin pathologia "study of the emotions, study of diseases," from patho- patho- + -logia -logy
Note: Probably formed on the basis of New Latin pathologicus (see pathological). In the sense "study of the emotions," perhaps directly from Greek pathología "study of the passions," attested in Greek-Latin glossaries.
First Known Use
1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy -jē
plural pathologies
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