Standard Lemma guide

pathologize

verb · 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To characterize as a pathology or disease; to characterize (a person) as suffering from a disease.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Near-synonym: medicalize
  • Some childhood behavior has been pathologized as attention-deficit disorder.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: medicalize

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek πάσχω (páskhō)der. Ancient Greek πᾰ́θος (pắthos) Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos) Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh2 Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Ancient Greek -λογῐ́ᾱ (-logĭ́ā)bor. Latin -logialbor. French -logie French pathologiebor. English pathology Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English pathologize From pathology + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 病理化 (bìnglǐhuà) — to characterize as a pathology or disease; to characterize (a person) as suffering from a disease
  • Danish: sygeliggøre — to characterize as a pathology or disease; to characterize (a person) as suffering from a disease
  • French: pathologiser — to characterize as a pathology or disease; to characterize (a person) as suffering from a disease
  • German: pathologisieren — to characterize as a pathology or disease; to characterize (a person) as suffering from a disease
  • Hungarian: patologizál — to characterize as a pathology or disease; to characterize (a person) as suffering from a disease
  • Portuguese: patologizar — to characterize as a pathology or disease; to characterize (a person) as suffering from a disease
  • Spanish: patologizar — to characterize as a pathology or disease; to characterize (a person) as suffering from a disease