Definition: Etiology is the study of causation or origination. In medicine, it refers specifically to the cause or origin of a disease or disorder.
Etymology & Origin: The term ‘etiology’ comes from the Greek word ‘aitiologia,’ which is a combination of ‘aitia’ meaning ’cause’ and ‘logos’ meaning ‘study.’ The term was first used in English in the late 16th century, predominantly in medical contexts to describe the investigation of disease origins.
Examples:
- Researchers are focused on understanding the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease to develop effective treatments.
- The etiology of infectious diseases often involves identifying the responsible pathogen and understanding its transmission mechanisms.
