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pathogen
noun
path·o·gen
ˈpa-thə-jən
: a specific causative agent (such as a bacterium or virus) of disease
Examples of pathogen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Salmonella is the country's most common cause of food poisoning, while concerns about contamination with the pathogen are a relatively common reason for the initiation of food product recalls.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Raw milk is not pasteurized and can can carry disease-causing pathogens such as listeria, campylobacter, salmonella, E. coli and bird flu virus.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
Our food systems, heavily dominated by concentrated animal feeding operations, facilitate the spread of pathogens.
—Crystal Heath and Gene Baur, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
The genetic material of several human pathogens—among them MRSA, Bartonella quintana, and hepatitis C—has also been found in bedbugs outside the laboratory.
—Kristen V. Brown, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
patho- + -gen, after pathogenic, pathogenesis
First Known Use
1880, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near pathogen
Cite this Entry
“Pathogen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathogen. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
pathogen
noun
patho·gen
ˈpath-ə-jən
: a germ (as a bacterium or virus) that causes disease
Medical Definition
pathogen
noun
patho·gen
ˈpath-ə-jən
: a specific causative agent (as a bacterium or virus) of disease
More from Merriam-Webster on pathogen
Britannica English: Translation of pathogen for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pathogen
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