Skip to main content

pathogenic — causing or capable of causing disease

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: causing or capable of causing disease

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌpæθəˈdʒenɪk/

Example Sentences

  • The pathogenic fungus turned my beautiful garden into a zombie apocalypse scene.
  • Scientists study pathogenic organisms to develop vaccines and treatments.
  • My roommate's dirty dishes have become a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.

pathogenic

ADJECTIVE

[/ˌpæθəˈdʒenɪk/]

causing or capable of causing disease

a lunch server places spoiled food onto students' trays without realizing it's contaminated. Harmful bacteria and germs are visually represented as tiny menacing creatures crawling on the food. Several students who already ate begin holding their stomachs and looking sick. Other students nearby start showing signs of illness as the contamination spreads from person to person. organisms causing disease and making people ill
💡 Concept

a lunch server places spoiled food onto students' trays without realizing it's contaminated. Harmful bacteria and germs are visually represented as tiny menacing creatures crawling on the food. Several students who already ate begin holding their stomachs and looking sick. Other students nearby start showing signs of illness as the contamination spreads from person to person. organisms causing disease and making people ill

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

Start FreeDemo

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌpæθəˈdʒenɪk/
🇬🇧 UK/ˌpæθəˈdʒenɪk/

🌳Etymology

Prefixpatho--
Rootgen
Suffix--ic

Origin

From Greek 'pathos' meaning suffering or disease, combined with 'genesis' meaning creation or origin. The word literally describes something that creates or generates disease.

Breakdown

patho- (disease/suffering) + -genic (producing/causing)

🎵Rhyme

psychogeniccarcinogenicallergenic
psychogenic
carcinogenic
allergenic

🔗Collocations

pathogenic bacteria
pathogenic microorganisms
pathogenic virus
pathogenic strain
pathogenic agent
highly pathogenic
potentially pathogenic

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The pathogenic fungus turned my beautiful garden into a zombie apocalypse scene.”

“Scientists study pathogenic organisms to develop vaccines and treatments.”

😄 Fun example

“My roommate's dirty dishes have become a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.”

“The laboratory requires special safety protocols when handling pathogenic samples.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

disease-causinginfectiousvirulenttoxicharmful

Antonyms

beneficialhealthynon-pathogenic

Related

pathogenpathologycontagiousepidemicmicrobe

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.

Start for Free60s Demo