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

Low Sun is our take on the contemporary West Coast IPA. —Blaine Callahan, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026

It is carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA in Stuttgart, and other industrial and research partners. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026

Friendships were forged over sudsy beverages — often, for us, in the form of a Mexican Chocolate Stout or the Citrus Paradisi IPA. —Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 4 May 2026

Sip the famous Pseudo Sue IPA, or sample exploratory and seasonal beers while nibbling on pub favorites like cheese curds. —Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 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.