congenital

adjective con·gen·i·tal \ kən-ˈje-nə-tᵊl , kän- \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of congenital

1 a : existing at or dating from birth

congenital deafness

b : constituting an essential characteristic : inherent

congenital fear of snakes

c : acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity

congenital syphilis

2 : being such by nature

a congenital liar

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congenitally

play \kən-ˈje-nə-tᵊl-ē, kän-\ adverb

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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 of congenital from the Web

Schwarzenegger’s surgery was the result of complications arising during a planned heart valve replacement after the original valve had been put in back in 1997 due to a congenital heart defect.

— derek lawrence, EW.com, "Arnold Schwarzenegger shares health update after undergoing open heart surgery," 13 Apr. 2018
The researchers pointed out that the nationwide declines were associated with improvements in neonatal disorders; other noncommunicable diseases, including congenital; and injuries, with slight increases from mental and substance use disorders.

— jacqueline howard, CNN, "The states where disease and death are highest: A visual guide," 10 Apr. 2018
The pulmonic valve originally was installed in 1997 for a congenital heart defect and had to be replaced.

— CBS News, "Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks after heart surgery: "I'm back!"," 2 Apr. 2018
Chris Toth grew up in San Diego’s North County, but rarely played goalkeeper until a congenital heart condition forced him into the nets in high school.

— tod leonard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sockers beat Tacoma, advance to conference finals," 10 Mar. 2018
Griffin was born with amniotic band syndrome, a congenital condition that caused him to lose his left hand at age 4.

— jourdan rodrigue, charlotteobserver, "If Carolina Panthers draft Shaquem Griffin, he could be more than just a great story | Charlotte Observer," 5 Mar. 2018
In an effort to bring awareness to congenital hearts disease like Ami's, the Rojas family designed T-shirts and sold them to friends and family.

— jackie frere, Redbook, "Mother Learns Her Baby Has Down Syndrome During Emotional Water Birth," 2 Mar. 2018
Sessions was born with congenital spina bifida and is paralyzed below her waist.

— harold brubaker, Philly.com, "Blossom Philadelphia faces lawsuit over neglect of disabled woman," 25 Jan. 2018
The pulmonic valve originally was installed in 1997 for a congenital heart defect and had to be replaced.

— CBS News, "Arnold Schwarzenegger in "good spirits" after heart surgery," 31 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'congenital.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of congenital

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1796

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

congenital Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.