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
Examples of pathology in a Sentence
the pathology of lung diseases
Recent Examples on the Web
Oncology models can scan pathology reports, read and decode them automatically, drastically reducing the need for manual chart review.
—David Talby, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
So for now, each of Idaho’s 44 coroners will bear costs that other states help cover: driving a body hundreds of miles to an autopsy; paying for some of those autopsies; or trying to recruit one more person to join Idaho’s statewide forensic pathology workforce of three.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 16 July 2025
The Seneca County Coroner's Office tells PEOPLE her body was sent for autopsy and a final pathology report is pending at this time.
—Brian Brant, People.com, 10 July 2025
Evaluation criteria include a wide range of metrics such as timeliness of care, adherence to medical and radiation oncology guidelines, genetic testing practices, pathology reporting standards, nurse navigation, and overall quality of services provided, according to a release.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathology
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Talby, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
So for now, each of Idaho’s 44 coroners will bear costs that other states help cover: driving a body hundreds of miles to an autopsy; paying for some of those autopsies; or trying to recruit one more person to join Idaho’s statewide forensic pathology workforce of three.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 16 July 2025
The Seneca County Coroner's Office tells PEOPLE her body was sent for autopsy and a final pathology report is pending at this time.
—Brian Brant, People.com, 10 July 2025
Evaluation criteria include a wide range of metrics such as timeliness of care, adherence to medical and radiation oncology guidelines, genetic testing practices, pathology reporting standards, nurse navigation, and overall quality of services provided, according to a release.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathology
Cite this Entry
“Pathology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathology. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy
pə-ˈthäl-ə-jē
plural pathologies
1
: the study of diseases and especially of the changes in the body produced by them
2
: something abnormal
especially
: the disorders in structure and function that occur in a particular disease
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share