pathogenic

adjective

path·​o·​gen·​ic ˌpa-thə-ˈje-nik 

1

: pathogenetic sense 1

2

: causing or capable of causing disease

pathogenicity

ˌpa-thə-jə-ˈni-sə-tē 

noun

Examples of pathogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since highly pathogenic avian influenza surfaced in the United States in 2022, millions of chickens and turkeys have been killed at poultry ranches across California to stop the contagious virus from spreading. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2025

The decline continues a recent downward trend in egg prices following a national egg shortage driven by the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, outbreak. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has quarantined a Stearns County dairy herd after samples collected as part of the state’s milk surveillance plan tested positive for H5N1, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza. —Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 24 Mar. 2025

The latest strain of the avian flu, H5N1, has been highly pathogenic since scientists first observed it in 2022. —Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

patho- + -genic, after French pathogénique, German pathogenisch

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pathogenic

• allergenic
• androgenic
• antigenic
• authigenic
• autogenic
• biogenic
• bronchogenic
• chromogenic
• cryogenic
• echogenic
• estrogenic
• isogenic

Kids Definition

pathogenic

adjective

patho·​gen·​ic

ˌpath-ə-ˈjen-ik

: causing or capable of causing disease

Medical Definition

pathogenic

adjective

patho·​gen·​ic -ˈjen-ik 

1

: pathogenetic sense 1

2

: causing or capable of causing disease

pathogenic microorganisms

pathogenically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb