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

Schweikhart’s team puts out craft beers and seasonal selections and names some of them after local places, like the Northwoods IPA, which is a nod to a 31-mile mountain-biking trail system north of town. —Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025

The Event Only 750 bottles of Ruthless are available for sale—the result of distilling about 1,200 gallons of Ruthless Rye IPA—and are only available at the distillery for $85 per bottle. —Don Tse, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

For a wedge salad, try an IPA, a porter or a stout, but not an imperial one. —Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025

Oga’s alcoholic drink menu includes a Jedi Mind Trick cocktail, Bad Motivator IPA beer and Imperial Guard red wine. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025

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.