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

Best neighbor: The Alchemist is renowned for Heady Topper, its fabled double IPA. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

In early 2025, Big Little Thing was reformulated as a hazy imperial IPA, cementing the series as a haze-only family. —Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Crafted in America, the brand offers four different drink options: the Double Tasty West Coast Style IPA, the Kingston Golden Pils, the Edge Hill Hazy IPA and the Noon Wheat. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 8 Aug. 2025

Ohana, made by Below Brew Company from the U.K., is a non-alcoholic IPA with orange, grapefruit, mango and pineapple notes. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 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.