Aetiogenic

/ˌiːtiəˈdʒɛnɪk/ adjective

Definition

Causing or producing disease; relating to the origin or cause of a disease or illness.

Etymology

From Greek aitia (αἰτία) meaning 'cause' combined with -genic (producing). Medical term combining Greek roots to describe disease-causing factors.

Kelly Says

Doctors use this word to describe things that *start* diseases—like how cigarette smoke is aetiogenic for lung cancer because it's the actual cause that kicks everything off.

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