congenital

[ kuh n-jen-i-tl ]
/ kənˈdʒɛn ɪ tl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR congenital ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Origin of congenital

1790–1800; < Latin congenit(us) connate ( con- con- + geni-, variant stem of gignere to give birth + -tus past participle suffix) + -al1

SYNONYMS FOR congenital

1 See innate.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR congenital ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM congenital

con·gen·i·tal·ly, adverb con·gen·i·tal·ness, noun non·con·gen·i·tal, adjective

Words nearby congenital

congener, congeneric, congenetic, congenial, congenic, congenital, congenital afibrinogenemia, congenital alopecia, congenital amputation, congenital anemia, congenital anomaly

Words related to congenital

ingrained, inveterate, complete, constitutional, inbred, indigenous, inherent, inherited, innate, intrinsic, latent, native, natural, thorough, utter, connate, connatural, indwelling, unacquired

British Dictionary definitions for congenital

congenital
/ (kənˈdʒɛnɪtəl) /

adjective

denoting or relating to any nonhereditary condition, esp an abnormal condition, existing at birth congenital blindness
informal complete, as if from birth a congenital idiot

Derived forms of congenital

congenitally, adverb congenitalness, noun

Word Origin for congenital

C18: from Latin congenitus born together with, from genitus born, from gignere to bear, beget

Medical definitions for congenital

congenital
[ kən-jĕn′ĭ-tl ]

adj.

Existing at or before birth usually through heredity, as a disorder.
Acquired at birth or during uterine development, usually as a result of environmental influences.

Scientific definitions for congenital

congenital
[ kən-jĕn′ĭ-tl ]

Existing at or before birth, as a defect or medical condition.

Cultural definitions for congenital

congenital
[ (kuhn-jen-i-tl) ]

A descriptive term for a disease or condition that is present at birth. A congenital disease can be either hereditary or acquired.