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
Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
The specific cause of peripheral neuropathy is sometimes unknown; this is referred to as idiopathic neuropathy.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
His death, in a hospital, was from the lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, his family said in a statement.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Duffy died Monday, a year after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Idiopathic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiopathic. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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idiopathic
adjective
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