(びょうげんたい)

びょうげんたい
noun
pathogen; disease-causing agent
formalhealthscience
1. pathogen; disease-causing agent; germ
A microorganism — such as a virus, bacterium, or parasite — that causes disease. A general scientific and medical term covering all types of infectious agents.
(あたら)しい病原体(びょうげんたい)発見(はっけん)された
A new pathogen was discovered.
この病原体(びょうげんたい)空気(くうき)感染(かんせん)する
This pathogen is transmitted through the air.
Handwashing and masks are basic measures to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Composed of 病原(びょうげん) (cause of disease) + (たい) (body, entity). A formal scientific term that became much more widely known through news coverage of infectious disease outbreaks.

Common collocations

Related words