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pathogenicity

American  
[path-oh-juh-nis-i-tee] / ˌpæθ oʊ dʒəˈnɪs ɪ ti /

noun

  1. the disease-producing capacity of a pathogen.


Etymology

Origin of pathogenicity

First recorded in 1895–1900; pathogenic + -ity

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Professor Brown told the BBC that the current virus was "as super-infectious as any high pathogenicity avian influenza we've ever seen".

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2025

Much to my chagrin, I learned there is a link between antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity, meaning that the C. acnes strains that are antibiotic-resistant are the same strains causing aggressive breakouts.

From Slate • Feb. 22, 2025

Transmission was mainly between men who had sex with men, a population group with many HIV-infected individuals, who are particularly susceptible to monkeypox virus infection and pathogenicity.

From Science Daily • Jan. 12, 2024

Department of Health and Human Services, extend the guidance to cover snippets as short as 50 nucleotides that could increase the toxicity or pathogenicity of organisms not on those lists.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 25, 2023

A final important test in identification is that of pathogenicity.

From Contagious Abortion of Cows by MacNeal, Ward J.