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.
Multiple sources said its implosion was symptomatic of some broader cultural and process problems that affected the rest of the project, too. ArsTechnica, 2 July 2025 This public sharing seems, in part, symptomatic of a loneliness epidemic affecting Gen Z. Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 29 June 2025 After several visits to a neurologist and a series of cognitive tests, he was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and later, after more testing, early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. Louise Jacobsen Fisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2025 Those people can’t infect others, but one in 10 cases can turn active, where the carrier becomes both symptomatic and can spread the disease. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 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 18 Jul. 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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