How Do You Spell PATHOLOGICAL?

Pronunciation: [pˌaθəlˈɒd͡ʒɪkə͡l] (IPA)

The word "pathological" is often misspelled, with many people mistakenly writing "pathalogical." The correct spelling of this word, however, can be explained through its IPA phonetic transcription: /pəˌθɑːləˈdʒɪkəl/. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound, followed by a stressed "tha" sound, and ending with a long "ol" sound. The second syllable begins with a soft "dʒ" sound, followed by a "ɪk" sound, and ending with a short "əl" sound. By breaking down the sounds of the word, it becomes easier to remember and spell correctly.

PATHOLOGICAL Meaning and Definition

1. The term "pathological" is an adjective that pertains to or characterizes a condition, behavior, or process that is abnormal, diseased, or indicative of a disorder. It implies an unusual or deviant state that deviates significantly from the norm or a healthy standard.

   In a medical context, "pathological" refers to diseases, disorders, or conditions that affect the body or mind adversely, resulting in malfunctioning or abnormal symptoms. It suggests a deviation from the healthy functioning and physiology of an organism, typically implying an underlying pathological process within the body or mind. For example, a pathological condition could describe cancerous cell growth, infections, or mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

   Beyond the medical realm, "pathological" can also describe behaviors or traits that are extremely abnormal or beyond what is considered normal or healthy. It refers to persistent patterns of conduct that are significantly abnormal and often detrimental to individuals or to their relationships with others. For instance, a pathological liar habitually fabricates stories and has difficulty differentiating truth from falsehood.

   Furthermore, in scientific research or academic inquiry, "pathological" can describe patterns, models, or phenomena that represent an extreme or atypical occurrence within a particular field of study. It implies an abnormality that deviates significantly from the expected or typical range of observations or outcomes. In summary, "pathological" denotes something deviating from the norm, often having negative connotations due to its association with diseases, abnormal behaviors, or atypical phenomena.

2. Relating to pathology; morbid, diseased; due to disease.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

3. Pert. to pathology.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for PATHOLOGICAL *

• pathalogical 68.75%
• patological 18.75%
• pathelogical 12.5%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for PATHOLOGICAL

• pyshological
• mithological
• thological
• pychological
• psihological
• pschological
• patholigical
• pathologial
• pathilogical
• psyhological
• anthological
• Anathological
• Pathologiacal
• Patoligical

Etymology of PATHOLOGICAL

The word "pathological" comes from the Greek word "pathologikos", which is derived from two root words: "pathos" meaning "suffering" or "disease", and "logos" meaning "study" or "speech". Therefore, "pathological" refers to the study or understanding of diseases or suffering.

Similar spelling words for PATHOLOGICAL

• pathologically,
• pathologic,
• pathology,
• pathologist.