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.
Graphic autopsy photos of Shakur were also shown to jurors as a forensic pathologist detailed the rapper’s fatal injuries and the extensive efforts doctors made to save his life after he was shot nearly 30 years ago. — Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 19 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 Board members Tennessee Walker and Laurie George apologized to speech-language pathologists over April staffing cuts, and Licata pledged a recruitment and retention report within two weeks. — Star-Telegram Staff. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026 Marie Anyiam, a speech pathologist in the district, lives across the street from Kennedy High School with her two young children. — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 14 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 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

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

Nglish: Translation of pathologist for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of august

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All