Standard Lemma guide

pathognomonic

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌpaθəɡnə(ʊ)ˈmɒnɪk/
  • General-American: /ˌpæθəɡnoʊˈmɑːnɪk/
  • General-American: /ˌpæθoʊnəˈmɑːnɪk/

1

adj

Meaning 1

specifically characteristic or indicative of a particular disease or condition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: medicine, sciences

Examples

  • A tetrad of rash, arthralgia, abdominal pain and kidney disease in a child is pathognomonic for Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek παθογνωμονικός (pathognōmonikós, “skilled in diagnosis”), from πάθος (páthos, “misfortune”) + γνωμονικός (gnōmonikós, “fit to judge of”).

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: patognòmic — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • Catalan: patognomònic — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • Finnish: patognomoninen — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • French: pathognomonique — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • German: pathognomonisch — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • Greek: παθογνωμονικός (pathognomonikós) — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • Italian: patognomonico — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • Spanish: patognomónico — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • Swedish: patognomon — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease
  • Swedish: patognomonisk — Beyond any doubt diagnostic for a particular disease