idiopathic
adjective
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Idiopathic joins the combining form idio- (from Greek idios, meaning "one's own" or "private") with -pathic, a form that suggests the effects of disease. The combining form idio- is typically found in technical terms. Examples include idiographic, meaning "relating to or dealing with something concrete, individual, or unique"; idiolect, meaning "the language or speech pattern of one individual at a particular period of life"; and idiotype, meaning "the molecular structure and conformation of an antibody that confers its antigenic specificity." A more common idio- word is idiosyncrasy, which most commonly refers to an unusual way in which a person behaves or thinks, or to an unusual part or feature of something.
Examples of idiopathic in a Sentence
Scott Thompson, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2025
The American Gastroenterological Association has recommended magnesium oxide, among several other treatments, for chronic idiopathic constipation.2
The use of magnesium for constipation should be discussed with your primary healthcare provider.
2.
—Jennifer Lefton, Ms, Rd/n, Cnsc, Fand, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025
Mark Weinman died of complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a respiratory illness he was diagnosed with more than a decade earlier.
—Cliff Brunt, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
Dolen was 74 and had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease, said her husband, former Sun Sentinel arts editor John Dolen.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idiopathic
Cite this Entry
“Idiopathic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiopathic. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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idiopathic
adjective
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