idiopathy

[id-ee-op-uh-thee]

noun

plural

idiopathies 

1. a disease not preceded or occasioned by any known morbid condition.

idiopathy

/ ˌɪdɪəʊˈpæθɪk, ˌɪdɪˈɒpəθɪ /

noun

1. any disease of unknown cause

Other Word Forms

• idiopathic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of idiopathy¹

1630–40; < New Latin idiopathīa < Greek idiopátheia disease or affection of local origin. See idio-, -pathy

Example Sentences

Two brilliant books by young writers that I've looked at and am looking forward to reading properly are Money by Felix Martin and Idiopathy by Sam Byers.

From The Guardian

What follows is a howling dig at cultural myopia and a more serious examination of its source, classified by Byers as an idiopathy, the definition of which is: "A disease or condition that arises spontaneously or for which the cause is unknown."

From The Guardian