idiopathic

American

[id-ee-uh-path-ik] / ˌɪd i əˈpæθ ɪk /

adjective

Pathology.

of unknown cause, as a disease.

idiopathic Scientific

/ ĭd′ē-ə-păth′ĭk /

Relating to or being a disease having no known cause.

Other Word Forms

idiopathically adverb

Etymology

Origin of idiopathic

First recorded in 1660–70; idio- + -pathic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Also on the podcast, Favre said he’s in the early stages of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, which is the most common type of the disorder.

From Los Angeles Times

The mother of two has idiopathic laryngotracheal stenosis, a rare condition that affects one in 500,000 women and causes abnormal narrowing of the voice box and windpipe.

From BBC

Two years before her death, Ladd was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease wherein “lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

From Los Angeles Times

Joel noted that the condition is idiopathic, meaning no one knows the cause.

From Los Angeles Times

Hussain died Sunday afternoon in San Francisco of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease, his family said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023