IPA

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˌī-(ˌ)pē-ˈā 

plural IPAs

: a pale ale made with extra hops : india pale ale

American beers, especially IPAs, are still quite hoppy …

—Lauren Buzzeo

IPA

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˌī-(ˌ)pē-ˈā 

: an alphabet designed to represent each human speech sound with a unique symbol

IPA

3 of 3

abbreviation

individual practice association

Examples of IPA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Plenty of that yuppie American IPA remained. —Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 19 June 2026

Three signature beer varieties were poured by the craft brewery, including its Kit Kupker, an amber ale; Devil’s Paint Box, a West Coast IPA; and Honest Haze, a hazy IPA. —Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

Farther south in Washburn, South Shore Brewery Taphouse is a popular stop—be sure to taste their Cloud Machine Hazy IPA. —Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 14 June 2026

Ribs practically cry out for a hoppy IPA, though a Belgian-style Tripel or Dubbel pairs well, too. —Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

India Pale Ale

Noun (2)

International Phonetic Alphabet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1893, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1933, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

IPA

abbreviation

independent practice association; individual practice association

Note: An independent practice association is made up of a group of physicians in private practice who join in an association that contracts with a managed health care plan (as an HMO) to provide medical services to patients enrolled in the plan.