asymptomatic

adjective

asymp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌā-ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce asymptomatic (audio)
: not causing, marked by, or presenting with signs or symptoms of infection, illness, or disease
asymptomatic carriers of contagious disease
Acute infection is usually asymptomatic, making early diagnosis difficult.Francis V. Chisari
Because gonorrhea is often asymptomatic in women, it can progress painlessly until the result is pelvic inflammatory disease with its sequelae of infertility or ectopic pregnancy.Marsha F. Goldsmith
Most patients with gallstones remain asymptomatic for many years and may, in fact, never develop symptoms.The Journal of the American Medical Association
Many of the fecal samples positive for Giardia were from asymptomatic pets.Lawrence M. Fox
asymptomatically adverb
asymptomatically infected children
The virus may be carried asymptomatically.

Examples of asymptomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While most cases are asymptomatic, the time when the worms are attaching to the intestinal wall can cause symptoms like nausea and low iron levels, especially if there are a lot of worms. Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025 Symptoms of appendix cancer vary from person to person—and sometimes can be asymptomatic. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025 However, about 80 percent of Zika cases are asymptomatic, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2025 Initial-stage cardiovascular abnormalities are often asymptomatic, and early detection generally depends on routine health checkups, electrocardiograms, stress tests, echocardiograms and blood tests. Ramsha Waseem, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for asymptomatic

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of asymptomatic was in 1856

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Cite this Entry

“Asymptomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asymptomatic. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

asymptomatic

adjective
asymp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌā-ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce asymptomatic (audio)
: presenting no signs of disease

Medical Definition

asymptomatic

adjective
asymp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌā-ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce asymptomatic (audio)
: not causing, marked by, or presenting with signs or symptoms of infection, illness, or disease
asymptomatic carriers of contagious disease
Decisions regarding the discontinuation of anticoagulation in such patients remain clinically challenging, requiring physicians to weigh the risk of bleeding against the risk of a stroke from asymptomatic arrhythmia.Rodney H. Falk, The New England Journal of Medicine
Acute infection is usually asymptomatic, making early diagnosis difficult.Francis V. Chisari, Nature
However, 10% to 25% of patients with Barrett's esophagus are completely asymptomatic.Scientific American Medicine Bulletin
Red blood cell transfusions for chronic stable anemia in the asymptomatic patient are not clinically beneficial and will unnecessarily increase the patient's risk for infection, immunization to blood antigens, or hemosiderosis.The Journal of the American Medical Association
asymptomatically adverb
asymptomatically infected adults
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