noun

pathogen

/ˈpæθədʒən/ · say it: PATH·uh·jen

an organism that causes disease

In Science & Nature

In more detail

1. (noun) a living thing, such as a bacterium or virus, that causes disease in humans, animals, or plants

Examples

1. The pathogen responsible for the infection was identified by the laboratory.

How to use pathogen

Pathogen is used primarily in medical, scientific, and public health contexts to refer to any microorganism capable of causing disease. It is more formal and technical than casual synonyms like 'germ' and is preferred in clinical, research, and educational settings when precision is needed.

Common phrases

pathogenic bacteria
identify a pathogen
harmful pathogen
foodborne pathogen
water-borne pathogen
pathogen transmission

Synonyms

microorganism · virus · bacterium · disease-causing agent · infectious agent

Word family

pathogenic (adjective) · pathogenesis (noun) · pathogenicity (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'pathogen' as an adjective (e.g., 'a pathogen bacteria') when the adjective form 'pathogenic' should be used instead.

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