pathogen
gb/pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən/ us/pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən/
C1
English
~ 9400
kórokozó
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
1
kórokozó
B2
Usage pattern:
a [type] pathogen causes [disease]
The new vaccine was developed to protect people from a highly contagious respiratory pathogen.
Az új vakcinát azért fejlesztették ki, hogy megvédje az embereket egy rendkívül fertőző légúti kórokozó ellen.
Food must be cooked thoroughly to kill any pathogens that might cause food poisoning.
Az ételt alaposan meg kell főzni, hogy elpusztuljanak az esetleg ételmérgezést okozó kórokozók.
Doctors are still trying to identify the pathogen responsible for the recent outbreak.
Handwashing is one of the simplest ways to stop pathogens from spreading.
Some animals can carry a pathogen without showing any signs of illness.
Learner examples
This drug kills the pathogen in your blood.
Ez a gyógyszer elpusztítja a véredben lévő kórokozót.
Many pathogens spread when people do not wash their hands.
Sok kórokozó akkor terjed, amikor az emberek nem mosnak kezet.
The scientist studies how this pathogen makes people sick.
The doctor thinks a virus is the pathogen in this case.
Cooking meat well can stop harmful pathogens.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'pathogen' means only bacteria, but it is a general word for any disease-causing microorganism, including viruses, fungi, and parasites. Another common mistake is countability and article use: you say 'a pathogen', 'the pathogen', or 'pathogens', not 'the pathogenes' or 'many pathogen'. Also, 'pathogen' is technical; in everyday conversation, speakers more often say 'germs' or name specific types like 'virus' or 'bacteria'.
Meaning
Microorganism that causes disease
Collocations
harmful pathogen
|disease-causing pathogen
|novel pathogen
|pathogen spread
|pathogen transmission
|foodborne pathogen
Synonyms
germ (More informal and general; often used in everyday speech, especially about bacteria and viruses, without a strong scientific tone.)
|
infectious agent (More formal and technical; emphasizes the ability to cause infection rather than the organism itself.)
|
microbe (General word for a microscopic organism; not all microbes are pathogens, so it does not always imply disease.)
Antonyms
nonpathogenic organism (A microorganism that does not cause disease and may be harmless or even beneficial to its host.)
Themes
science
|health
|medicine
Definition
A pathogen is a very small living thing, like a virus or bacteria, that gets into a body and makes it sick.
A pathogen is a microorganism, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, that can enter a host and cause disease.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pathogen
IPA
GB/pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən/
US/pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən/
Syllables & stress
patho - gen (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (patho)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pathogen
- Plural: pathogens
Word family
Forms
pathogens
noun
Core family
pathogenic
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
nonpathogenic
adjective
Advanced or less common
pathogenicity
noun
pathogenesis
noun
Expressions
airborne pathogen
1/ˈɛɹbˌɔɹn pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
Pathogen spread through the air
A harmful germ that moves through the air, usually when people cough, sneeze, or talk.
Examples
- Masks can help reduce the spread of airborne pathogens in crowded indoor spaces.
- Ventilation systems are upgraded to filter out airborne pathogens in hospitals.
emerging pathogen
1/ɪmˈɚd͡ʒɪŋ pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
New or rapidly spreading pathogen
A germ that has recently started to infect people or is suddenly infecting many more people than before.
Examples
- Researchers are closely monitoring several emerging pathogens that could cause future pandemics.
- Global travel can help an emerging pathogen spread quickly between countries.
foodborne pathogen
1/fˈʊdbˌɔɹn pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
Pathogen spread through contaminated food
A harmful germ that gets into people through food that is dirty or not cooked enough.
Examples
- Proper refrigeration is essential to prevent the growth of foodborne pathogens.
- The restaurant was closed after tests found a dangerous foodborne pathogen in the kitchen.
pathogen load
1/pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən lˈoʊd/
fixed phrase
technical
Amount of pathogen present
How many germs are in a person or in something like water, air, or soil.
Examples
- The severity of symptoms often increases with higher pathogen load.
- Improved sanitation has helped to reduce the pathogen load in local rivers.
pathogen of concern
1/pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən əv kənsˈɚn/
fixed phrase
technical
Pathogen that needs special attention
A germ that experts think is especially important or dangerous, so they watch it very closely.
Examples
- The World Health Organization has listed the virus as a pathogen of concern due to its high fatality rate.
- Several antibiotic-resistant bacteria are now considered pathogens of concern in hospitals.
waterborne pathogen
1/wˈɔtɚbˌɔɹn pˈæθoʊd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
Pathogen spread through water
A harmful germ that spreads to people through dirty or unsafe water.
Examples
- Boiling drinking water is a simple way to kill most waterborne pathogens.
- Floods can contaminate wells and increase the risk of waterborne pathogens.