Meaning & use
pathogen
A microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus, that causes disease in a living host.
See it in a sentence
Doctors identified the pathogen responsible for the outbreak within a few days.
Proper handwashing greatly reduces the spread of common pathogens like cold and flu viruses.
A note on using this word
"Pathogen" is a broad term covering bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites capable of causing illness.
Words with a similar meaning
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