symptomatic

American  

[simp-tuh-mat-ik] / ˌsɪmp təˈmæt ɪk /

Sometimes symptomatical

adjective

1. pertaining to a symptom or symptoms.

2. 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.

3. according to symptoms.

   a symptomatic classification of disease.

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symptomatic British  

/ ˌsɪmptəˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. (often foll by of) being a symptom; indicative

   symptomatic of insanity

2. of or relating to a symptom or symptoms

3. according to symptoms

   a symptomatic analysis of a case

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Other Word Forms

• nonsymptomatic adjective
• presymptomatic adjective
• pseudosymptomatic adjective
• symptomatically adverb
• unsymptomatic adjective
• unsymptomatical adjective
• unsymptomatically adverb

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.

Example Sentences

The question is whether that caution is traveling far enough upstream, before patients are symptomatic.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

But he is symptomatic of the America in which we live.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski defended his Outperform rating on Blue Owl stock Thursday, arguing that the firm’s recent troubles weren’t symptomatic of a larger issue.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

Its vaccine was 27% more effective at preventing symptomatic cases of flu and 49% more effective against hospitalization than the standard flu vaccine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

But assumption was symptomatic of malevolent tendencies that transcended mere dollars and cents.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• emblematic
• symbolic