symptomatic
Americanadjective
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pertaining to a symptom or symptoms.
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of the nature of or constituting a symptom indicative (often followed byof ).
a condition symptomatic of cholera;
a disagreement that was symptomatic of the deterioration in their relationship.
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according to symptoms.
a symptomatic classification of disease.
adjective
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(often foll by of) being a symptom; indicative
symptomatic of insanity
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of or relating to a symptom or symptoms
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according to symptoms
a symptomatic analysis of a case
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of symptomatic
First recorded in 1690–1700; from Medieval Latin symptōmaticus, equivalent to Late Latin symptōmat- (stem of symptōma ) + -icus; see origin at symptom, -ic
Explanation
Anything symptomatic relates to the symptoms of a disease. If you're symptomatic, you might be sick. A symptom is a sign of a disease or illness. Symptoms of a cold include a stuffed nose and cough. So if you have a cough, you're symptomatic. Being symptomatic means you're showing symptoms of something. Sometimes you can be symptomatic and not have an illness: the doctor might not be sure why you're having headaches, for example.
Vocabulary lists containing symptomatic
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.
"Because reducing amyloid burden is clinically proven to improve functional outcomes, these preclinical results strongly support the rationale for testing this drug in early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease."
From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026
For those who test positive, the Alima coordinator says their symptoms are treated until they are no longer symptomatic and "must have two negative laboratory results before being discharged".
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
The majority of spread centered on three symptomatic individuals who infected others through seemingly casual contact at a crowded indoor birthday party and at a wake.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
With the Andes virus, by contrast, people probably need to be symptomatic to spread illness.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
Like John, he had lumps on his neck, but in Alcante’s case they were in fact symptomatic of scrofula.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
