What does pathological mean?
Pathological is an adjective used chiefly for something connected with disease, injury, or an abnormal bodily condition. In medicine, it may describe pathological tissue, a pathological condition, or changes that are associated with illness. In broader contexts, it describes behavior, attitudes, or circumstances that are severely disordered or excessive, often implying that they are irrational or socially unacceptable. For example, a pathological liar lies compulsively rather than merely occasionally, while pathological jealousy can seriously disrupt relationships. The word has a strong, often disapproving tone outside specialist or scientific writing, so it should be used carefully when describing people. Its roots in Greek reinforce its association with suffering: pathos refers to suffering or disease, while logos denotes the systematic study of something. The term is therefore useful when describing conditions that depart markedly from normal functioning, whether physical or psychological.
adjectiveRelating to or caused by disease; characterized by an abnormal or harmful condition. It can also describe behavior or circumstances that are extreme, excessive, or socially unacceptable.
- Relating to pathology or caused by disease.
- Characterized by an abnormal, extreme, or harmful condition.
- Exhibiting behavior that is excessive, irrational, or socially unacceptable.
"The scan revealed pathological changes in the tissue."
"The researchers compared the pathological samples with healthy tissue."
"His distrust of the committee became pathological and began affecting every aspect of his work."
Pathological comes from the same Greek roots as the word pathology: pathos, meaning suffering, and logos, meaning the study of.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pathological come from?
The word comes through Latin from Greek pathologikos, meaning relating to suffering or disease. It is built from pathos, meaning suffering or disease, and -logikos, a form related to logos, meaning the study or account of something. The family developed from the same roots as pathology and pathologize.
Related word forms
How pathological is actually used
In medical contexts, the term is precise and clinical. In general use, it often conveys that something is extreme, disordered, or unreasonable, and can be strongly critical or derogatory when applied to a person's conduct.
Easily confused with pathological
Pathogenic describes something capable of causing disease, whereas pathological relates to disease or abnormality more generally.
Psychological concerns the mind and emotions, while pathological more often concerns disease, abnormality, or extreme behavior.