congenital

[ kuhn-jen-i-tl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, especially the uterine environment.
2. having by nature a specified character:

   a congenital fool.

congenital

/ kənˈdʒɛnɪtəl /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to any nonhereditary condition, esp an abnormal condition, existing at birth

   congenital blindness

2. informal.
   complete, as if from birth

   a congenital idiot

congenital

/ kən-jĕn′ĭ-tl /

1. Existing at or before birth, as a defect or medical condition.

congenital

1. A descriptive term for a disease or condition that is present at birth. A congenital disease can be either hereditary or acquired.

Derived Forms

• conˈgenitally, adverb
• conˈgenitalness, noun

Other Words From

• con·gen·i·tal·ly adverb
• con·gen·i·tal·ness noun
• non·con·gen·i·tal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of congenital¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Latin congenit(us) “inborn, innate” ( con- con- + geni-, variant stem of gignere “to give birth” + -tus past participle suffix) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of congenital¹

C18: from Latin congenitus born together with, from genitus born, from gignere to bear, beget

Synonym Study

See innate.

Example Sentences

Techshot also envisions someday using artificial tissue and organs to help treat diseases, and even congenital defects.

From MIT Technology Review

Despite having been diagnosed with a congenital heart condition,“she worked day and night—walked in the heat to different centers as and when assigned,” Dinesh says.

From Time

Cunningham-Rundles treats many patients with congenital immune system deficiencies.

From Washington Post

Early on, my vet back home delivered the crushing news that Scout had a congenital kidney disease.

From Washington Post

Mabry’s ex-wife worked in a hospital, so two of their kids, including one with a congenital condition, moved in with him.

From ProPublica

Related Words

• ingrained
• inveterate

More About Congenital

What does congenital mean?

Congenital describes something that is or is related to a condition present from birth or during fetal development.

The word congenital can refer to a condition occurring at the time of birth or while the embryo is developing, as in The scientists noticed multiple congenital defects in the kangaroo embryos.

Informally, congenital can mean something is so complete that it seems to have been that way since birth, as in Frank is a congenital liar. 

Congenital can refer to a condition that is either inherited or caused by the environment, however there is an important point to remember. In medicine, the word congenital is a general term to refer to any disease that can be present since birth. However, congenital isn’t used interchangeably with words like genetic or hereditary. This is because not all diseases or disorders that can happen during pregnancy (meaning they are congenital) are caused by genes or inheritance.

Congenital is similar to the words innate and inborn, however congenital can refer to pre-birth development and, even in the informal sense, usually refers to negative traits or qualities.

Example: The rats’ misshapen feet appear to be a congenital defect that they have had since they were born.

Where does congenital come from?

The first records of congenital come from around 1790. It comes from the Latin congenit(us), meaning “inborn, innate.” Congenital refers to traits or conditions a living thing has had since (or even before) birth.

When used formally, congenital very often refers to medical conditions or disorders that a person is born with. Congenital disorders or defects can be caused by genetics, but not all of them are. For example, congenital heart defects can be inherited or can be a result of the mother smoking cigarettes or having diabetes while pregnant.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to congenital?

• congenitally (adverb)
• congenitalness (noun)
• noncongenital (adjective)

What are some synonyms for congenital?

• ingrained
• inveterate
• complete
• utter

What are some words that share a root or word element with congenital? 

• genital
• congenital afibrinogenemia
• congenital amputation

What are some words that often get used in discussing congenital?

• birth
• fetus
• disorder
• abnormality

How is congenital used in real life?

Congenital is most often used formally to refer to medical disorders and defects that a person is born with.

Just discovered that Arnold Schwarzenegger has the same congenital heart defect as my daughter and I’m very glad to know there’s still hope she’ll become a huge beefcake one day.

— jon bon iver (@kimbaheartsyou) October 25, 2020

LB Zachary Orr has announced he is retiring from the NFL due to a congenital neck/spine condition. 😢

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 20, 2017

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's top court ruled Thursday that a law allowing abortion of fetuses with congenital defects is unconstitutional, shutting a loophole in the predominantly Catholic country's abortion laws that are among Europe's strictest.

— Rick Folbaum (@RickFolbaum) October 22, 2020

Try using congenital!

True or False?

The word congenital refers to a condition that is developed soon after birth.