congenital
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2 ENTRIES FOUND:

con·gen·i·tal

adjective \kən-ˈje-nə-təl, 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 \-təl-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

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

con·gen·i·tal

adjective \kän-ˈjen-ə-təl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CONGENITAL

1
: existing at or dating from birth <congenital deafness>
2
: acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity <congenital syphilis>—compare acquired 2, familial, hereditary
con·gen·i·tal·ly \-təl-ē\ adverb

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