congenital

adjective

con·​gen·​i·​tal kən-ˈje-nə-tᵊl 

kän-

1

a

: existing at or dating from birth

congenital deafness

… a congenital neuromuscular disease that stiffens joints and weakens muscles.

—Lara Cerri

… scientists hope to also understand more common malformations that are congenital but not inherited.

—Lee Siegel

The skin markings are a benign congenital developmental condition and, on palpation, feel no different to normal skin.

—Elizabeth Symes

b

: constituting an essential characteristic : inherent

A congenital taste for Greco-Roman themes, which had once found expression in his own paintings, now took the form of a pronounced weakness for buying up statuettes and medallions depicting gods and heroes of classical times.

—Anthony Powell

At each roll, the ship favored its congenital list, easing farther and farther toward that soft starboard side …

—Robert Stone

c

: acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity

Antiparasitic treatment is recommended in acute or congenital infection, in children with chronic infection, and in immunosuppressed patients.

—Eric M. Isselbacher et al.

PCBs pass through the placenta, cause congenital poisoning, and remain in human tissues for long intervals.

—Scientific American Medicine Bulletin

2

: being such by nature

a congenital liar

The truth was that Ward was a congenital name-dropper and snob who—though he was undoubtedly treated unfairly—largely brought his troubles upon himself.

—Anthony Howard

congenitally

kən-ˈje-nə-tᵊl-ē 

kän-

adverb

congenitally deaf

Gwynn, who seems congenitally incapable of a frown, didn't mention the matter until I brought it up.

—Roger Angell

Synonyms

• chronic
• born
• natural
• hereditary

Choose the Right Synonym for congenital

innate, inborn, inbred, congenital, hereditary mean not acquired after birth.

innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

inborn suggests a quality or tendency either actually present at birth or so marked and deep-seated as to seem so.

her inborn love of nature

inbred suggests something either acquired from parents by heredity or so deeply rooted and ingrained as to seem acquired in that way.

inbred political loyalties

congenital and hereditary refer to what is acquired before or at birth, the former to things acquired during fetal development and the latter to things transmitted from one's ancestors.

a congenital heart murmur

eye color is hereditary

Examples of congenital in a Sentence

The irregularity in my backbone is probably congenital.

a congenital liar who couldn't speak the truth if his life depended on it

Recent Examples on the Web

Dangers of pesticides Pesticides have been linked in studies to premature births, congenital malformations such as neural tube defects, spontaneous abortions and an increase in genetic damage in humans. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 11 June 2025

According to the National Institute of Health, the former is a congenital condition where part of the eye tissue is missing, while the latter is an underdeveloped eye. —Eric Andersson, People.com, 31 May 2025

The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions. —Devi Shastri, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025

Pulmonic stenosis is a congenital heart defect where the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs is obstructed, and a grade VI murmur is the most intense type of heart murmur, typically indicating a significant abnormality. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin congenitus, from com- + genitus, past participle of gignere to bring forth — more at kin

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing congenital

• congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Rhymes for congenital

• subgenital
• genital
• urogenital

Kids Definition

congenital

adjective

con·​gen·​i·​tal kən-ˈjen-ə-tᵊl 

: existing at or dating from birth

congenital heart disease

Medical Definition

congenital

adjective

con·​gen·​i·​tal kän-ˈjen-ə-tᵊl 

1

: existing at or dating from birth

congenital deafness

congenital heart disease

2

: acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity

Our study primarily aimed to find out the birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasma infection in live neonates …

—Morten Lebech et al., The Lancet

compare acquired sense 1, familial, hereditary

congenitally

-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

congenitally deaf

a congenitally faulty heart valve