congenital

adjective

con·​gen·​i·​tal kən-ˈje-nə-tᵊl How to pronounce congenital (audio)
kän-
1
a
: existing at or dating from birth
congenital deafness
… a congenital neuromuscular disease that stiffens joints and weakens muscles.Lara Cerri
… scientists hope to also understand more common malformations that are congenital but not inherited.Lee Siegel
The skin markings are a benign congenital developmental condition and, on palpation, feel no different to normal skin.Elizabeth Symes
b
: constituting an essential characteristic : inherent
A congenital taste for Greco-Roman themes, which had once found expression in his own paintings, now took the form of a pronounced weakness for buying up statuettes and medallions depicting gods and heroes of classical times.Anthony Powell
At each roll, the ship favored its congenital list, easing farther and farther toward that soft starboard side …Robert Stone
c
: acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity
Antiparasitic treatment is recommended in acute or congenital infection, in children with chronic infection, and in immunosuppressed patients.Eric M. Isselbacher et al.
PCBs pass through the placenta, cause congenital poisoning, and remain in human tissues for long intervals.Scientific American Medicine Bulletin
2
: being such by nature
a congenital liar
The truth was that Ward was a congenital name-dropper and snob who—though he was undoubtedly treated unfairly—largely brought his troubles upon himself.Anthony Howard
congenitally adverb
congenitally deaf
Gwynn, who seems congenitally incapable of a frown, didn't mention the matter until I brought it up. Roger Angell
Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

a congenital heart murmur
eye color is hereditary

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 on the Web Sanderson, 16, was born with spina bifida, a congenital birth defect in which the spinal cord fails to form properly. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2024 After the discovery of his congenital spinal condition following the season, though, he was forced to retire. Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2024 And for every 155 births among American Indian and Alaska Native women in 2022, there was one congenital syphilis case, the CDC data shows. Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024 More troubling, infection during pregnancy can result in infants with congenital malformations, in addition to early birth and miscarriage. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 12 Jan. 2024 There are plates representing cancer research, congenital heart disease awareness, child abuse prevention, Alzheimer's awareness, Arizona education, wildlife conservation, environmental awareness and more. Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 10 Jan. 2024 Syphilis, especially congenital syphilis (transmitted during pregnancy), has grown significantly in recent years. Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 Rates of congenital syphilis—syphilis passed from the mother to baby during childbirth—also jumped in the past decade, going up 937%. Korin Miller, Health, 7 Feb. 2024 In 2022, cases of syphilis rose by 17 percent in the U.S. compared to the previous year, while cases of congenital syphilis rose by 31 percent. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'congenital.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of congenital was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near congenital

Cite this Entry

“Congenital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/congenital. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

congenital

adjective
con·​gen·​i·​tal kən-ˈjen-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce congenital (audio)
: existing at or dating from birth
congenital heart disease

Medical Definition

congenital

adjective
con·​gen·​i·​tal kän-ˈjen-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce congenital (audio)
1
: existing at or dating from birth
congenital deafness
congenital heart disease
2
: acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity
Our study primarily aimed to find out the birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasma infection in live neonates …Morten Lebech et al., The Lancet
compare acquired sense 1, familial, hereditary
congenitally adverb
congenitally deaf
a congenitally faulty heart valve

More from Merriam-Webster on congenital

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