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

Bar Americano, located on the lawn between the Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art, sells several types of alcoholic beverages, including an IPA, wheat, lager, sour and cider. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

This copper beauty serves up bold floral and citrus aromas, plus the signature IPA bitterness. — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Settle in for lunch—pizza, burgers, wraps, salads—and a pint of Thunderbay IPA or Bingo’s Blueberry Cobbler Wheat. — John Godfrey Published, Midwest Living, 8 Aug. 2026

Colorado’s flag was voted to be a craft IPA can because of the state’s brewery culture. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026

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.