nephropathy

noun

ne·​phrop·​a·​thy ni-ˈfrä-pə-thē 

plural nephropathies

: an abnormal state of the kidney

especially : one associated with or secondary to some other pathological process

nephropathic

ˌne-frə-ˈpa-thik 

adjective

Examples of nephropathy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Key Takeaways IgA nephropathy is a progressive disease where immune proteins damage the kidneys' filtering units. —Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025

This happens in about 30% of adults who have had IgA nephropathy for 20 or more years. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 30 Sep. 2024

The researchers also looked at the presence of nephropathy and retinopathy as indicators of microvascular disease. —New Atlas, 14 July 2024

What about the company Vertex didn’t buy? Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ decision to pay $4.9 billion for Alpine Immune Sciences cast a spotlight on the severe kidney disease IgA nephropathy — and, by extension, a company called Vera Therapeutics. —Damian Garde, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1900, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nephropathy

• arthropathy
• neuropathy
• adenopathy
• homeopathy
• osteopathy
• lymphadenopathy

Medical Definition

nephropathy

noun

ne·​phrop·​a·​thy ni-ˈfräp-ə-thē 

plural nephropathies

: an abnormal state of the kidney

especially : one associated with or secondary to some other pathological process

nephropathic

ˌnef-rə-ˈpath-ik 

adjective