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congenital
[kuhn-jen-i-tl]
adjective
of or relating to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, especially the uterine environment.
having by nature a specified character.
a congenital fool.
congenital
/ əˈɛɪə /
adjective
denoting or relating to any nonhereditary condition, esp an abnormal condition, existing at birth
congenital blindness
informalcomplete, as if from birth
a congenital idiot
congenital
Existing at or before birth, as a defect or medical condition.
congenital
A descriptive term for a disease or condition that is present at birth. A congenital disease can be either hereditary or acquired.
Other Word Forms
- congenitally adverb
- congenitalness noun
- noncongenital adjective
- DzˈԾٲ adverb
- DzˈԾٲԱ noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of congenital1
Word History and Origins
Origin of congenital1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
There has also been an increase in miscarriages, stillbirths and congenital abnormalities.
But one twin's diagnosis with acrania — a rare, fatal congenital disorder characterized by the full or partial absence of cranial bones — sent Brandt's world into a grief-stricken tailspin.
The congenital disorder affects just one in 20,000 people and means he lacks pigment in his skin, hair and eyes as well as having a visual impairment.
They affirmed that Trump suffers from "a congenital sense of entitlement," whose personality is like that of "street toughs, bullies, abusive husbands and hate-crime perpetrators."
According to the research, the increase in infant mortality due to congenital malformations was consistent with women being denied abortions for non-viable pregnancies - where a pregnancy cannot possibly result in a liveborn baby.
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Related Words
When To Use
Congenital describes something that is or is related to a condition present from birth or during fetal development.The word congenital can refer to a condition occurring at the time of birth or while the embryo is developing, as in The scientists noticed multiple congenital defects in the kangaroo embryos.Informally, congenital can mean something is so complete that it seems to have been that way since birth, as in Frank is a congenital liar. Congenital can refer to a condition that is either inherited or caused by the environment, however there is an important point to remember. In medicine, the word congenital is a general term to refer to any disease that can be present since birth. However, congenital isn’t used interchangeably with words like genetic or hereditary. This is because not all diseases or disorders that can happen during pregnancy (meaning they are congenital) are caused by genes or inheritance.Congenital is similar to the words innate and inborn, however congenital can refer to pre-birth development and, even in the informal sense, usually refers to negative traits or qualities.Example: The rats’ misshapen feet appear to be a congenital defect that they have had since they were born.
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