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.

It’s acquiring Centessa Pharmaceuticals, which is working on orexin receptor 2 agonists for conditions like narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia — forms of daytime sleepiness.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The company reported that the Tyvaso trial, TETON-1, showed a magnitude of improvement in treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, when compared with the first Phase 3 trial.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

When Ladd was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2023, she was told she might have only six months to live.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025

The Indian classical music icon died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said in a statement.

From BBC • Dec. 15, 2024

I once Googled “excessive blushing” and found out there’s a terrifying name for my condition: idiopathic craniofacial erythema.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

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