What does pathogenic mean?
Pathogenic is an adjective meaning capable of causing disease, especially in living organisms such as humans, animals, or plants. It is commonly used with microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and may distinguish a disease-causing strain or species from a harmless one. In scientific and medical writing, pathogenic often emphasizes the ability to produce illness, whereas virulent more specifically suggests a severe or rapidly harmful form of that organism. The word can also be used more broadly for agents or conditions capable of damaging biological tissue or disrupting normal processes. It is mainly associated with technical, clinical, and public-health contexts, although it is readily understood in general writing. Related terms include pathogen, an organism or agent that causes disease; pathogenesis, the process by which disease develops; and pathogenicity, the quality or degree of being disease-causing.
adjectiveCapable of causing disease or harm to living organisms. In biology and medicine, it is used especially of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, that can cause illness.
- Able to cause disease in humans, animals, or other organisms.
- Able to damage or disrupt living tissue or biological processes.
"The researchers identified a highly pathogenic strain of the virus."
"Pathogenic organisms can spread through contaminated food and water."
"The study focused on the pathogenic effects of the bacterium on plants."
Pathogenic comes from the same Greek roots as pathology: both point to the causes and development of disease.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pathogenic come from?
Pathogenic was formed in the 19th century from the combining form patho-, associated with Greek pathos, meaning disease or suffering, and -genic, meaning producing or generating. Its sense developed from the idea of producing disease, and it became especially important in the development of bacteriology and infectious-disease medicine. The same roots appear in pathogen, pathogenesis, and pathology.
Related word forms
How pathogenic is actually used
The term is chiefly used in biology, medicine, and public health. It is more specific than the general word harmful and is not usually used of noninfectious physical or chemical hazards.
Easily confused with pathogenic
Pathogenic means capable of causing disease, whereas pathological means relating to disease or abnormal bodily conditions and can also describe something excessively or irrationally extreme.
Pathogenic describes the ability to cause disease, while virulent refers specifically to severity, harmfulness, or degree of virulence.