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

The product could potentially contain the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the statement cautioned. —Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025

The facility is the only one in the state with the federal biosecurity clearance to handle and track the most dangerous samples of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). —Jia H. Jung, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s website discourages this due to foodborne pathogens like salmonella and listeria, and now the highly pathogenic H5N1. —Kff Health News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025

The good news is, that, for cows, the disease is seldom deadly (or as public health officials say, highly pathogenic). —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 24 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