adj
Uncommon
congenital
kuhn-JEH-nihtl
Congenital (adj) means present from birth, especially referring to a medical condition. Example: “The baby was born with a congenital heart defect.”
adj
1
Present from birth, especially referring to a medical condition.
"The baby was born with a congenital heart defect."
How to use congenital
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a condition or trait someone is born with, rather than one they develop later.
Common mistake
Congenital just means "present at birth" — it doesn't necessarily mean inherited/genetic, since some congenital conditions are caused by things that happen in the womb.
Easily confused with
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The baby was born with a _____ heart defect.
Etymology
From Latin congenitus ("born together with"), from con- + genitus, past participle of gignere ("to beget").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for congenital
See all rhymes for congenital →Frequently asked questions
What does “congenital” mean?
The word “congenital” means present from birth, especially referring to a medical condition. In plain terms, describes a condition or trait someone is born with, rather than one they develop later.
How do you pronounce “congenital”?
“Congenital” is pronounced kuhn-JEH-nihtl (/kənˈdʒɛnɪt(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “congenital” in a sentence?
Here is “congenital” used in a sentence: “The baby was born with a congenital heart defect.”
What part of speech is “congenital”?
“Congenital” is an adjective.
Where does the word “congenital” come from?
The word “congenital” comes from Latin. From Latin congenitus ("born together with"), from con- + genitus, past participle of gignere ("to beget").
Is “congenital” a common word?
“Congenital” is an uncommon word in modern English.
