symptomatic

adjective

symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce symptomatic (audio)
1
a
: being a symptom of a disease
b
: having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause
symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage
2
: concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms
symptomatic treatment
a symptomatic patient
3
: characteristic, indicative
his behavior was symptomatic of his character
symptomatically adverb

Examples of symptomatic in a Sentence

a fever's refusal to respond to antibiotics is symptomatic of a viral infection
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.
One such development is a new effort from biotech company AOA Dx to build an early detection test for women with symptomatic ovarian cancer. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Sep. 2025 Chagas disease is treated by antiparasitic treatment, which kills the parasite that causes the disease, and symptomatic treatment, which helps manage symptoms, according to the CDC. Greta Cross, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025 The repetitions of Emery answers and responding with Bizot every time, Martinez’s deputy, were signs of his annoyance and symptomatic of how the uncertainty that had enveloped Villa’s summer was now permeating onto the pitch. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025 The fact that a 50-year-old movie outperformed two high-profile new releases during a holiday weekend is symptomatic of a difficult summer for Hollywood. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for symptomatic

Word History

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of symptomatic was in 1698

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Symptomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symptomatic. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

symptomatic

adjective
symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce symptomatic (audio)
1
a
: being a symptom (as of disease)
an itchy skin rash is symptomatic of poison ivy
b
: concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms
a symptomatic patient
2
: showing a quality or identity : characteristic
symptomatically adverb

Medical Definition

symptomatic

adjective
symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce symptomatic (audio)
1
a
: being a symptom of a disease
gummas symptomatic of syphilis
b
: having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause
symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage
2
: concerned with or affecting symptoms
symptomatic treatment
3
: having symptoms
a symptomatic patient
symptomatically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on symptomatic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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