congenital

con·gen·i·tal

adj \kən-ˈje-nə-t^əl, kän-\

Definition of CONGENITAL

1

a : existing at or dating from birth <congenital deafness> b : constituting an essential characteristic : inherent <congenital fear of snakes> c : acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity <congenital syphilis>

2

: being such by nature <a congenital liar>

— con·gen·i·tal·ly \-t^əl-ē\ adverb

Examples of CONGENITAL

1. The irregularity in my backbone is probably congenital.
2. <a congenital liar who couldn't speak the truth if his life depended on it>

Origin of CONGENITAL

Latin congenitus, from com- + genitus, past participle of gignere to bring forth — more at kin

First Known Use: 1796

Related to CONGENITAL

Synonyms: born, natural

Antonyms: nonnatural

Related Words: chronic, confirmed, habitual, incorrigible, ingrained (also engrained), inveterate, proper, regular, unreconstructed, unregenerate; constitutional, consummate; elemental, elementary, essential; connate, hereditary, inborn, inherent, innate, intimate, intrinsic, native; instinctual, intuitive

Near Antonyms: cultivated, developed, trained; alien, foreign, unnatural

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See Synonym Discussion at innate

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity