pathologist

noun

pa·​thol·​o·​gist pə-ˈthä-lə-jist How to pronounce pathologist (audio)
pa-
Synonyms of pathologistnext
: a specialist in pathology
specifically : a physician who interprets and diagnoses the changes caused by disease in tissues and body fluids

Examples of pathologist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When a prosecutor asked why the body was so swollen, the pathologist explained that six days of life support left his blood and lymphatic fluids unable to circulate; the vessels seeped into the surrounding tissues. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 The former child star has been working as a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) since 2017, according to her Expressable profile. — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 In both cases, the pathologists have waited for the results of toxicology tests, which can take weeks to complete. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 Gajdusek had come to the idea of injecting animals after a veterinary pathologist noticed that the brains of kuru patients resembled those of sheep with scrapie, a fatal neurological disease transmitted through exposure to infected tissues. — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pathologist

Word History

Etymology

pathology + -ist entry 1

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pathologist was in 1650

Rhymes for pathologist

See All Rhymes for pathologist

Browse Nearby Words

pathologico-
pathologist
pathologize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pathologist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathologist. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pathologist

noun
pa·​thol·​o·​gist pə-ˈthäl-ə-jəst How to pronounce pathologist (audio)
pa-
: a specialist in pathology

Medical Definition

pathologist

noun
pa·​thol·​o·​gist pə-ˈthäl-ə-jəst, pa- How to pronounce pathologist (audio)
: a specialist in pathology
specifically : a physician who interprets and diagnoses the changes caused by disease in tissues and body fluids

More from Merriam-Webster on pathologist

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pathologist

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