symptomatic

adjective

symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈma-tik 

1

a

: being a symptom of a disease

b

: having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause

symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage

2

: concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms

symptomatic treatment

a symptomatic patient

3

: characteristic, indicative

his behavior was symptomatic of his character

symptomatically

ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• characteristic
• classic
• diagnostic
• diagnostical
• discriminating
• distinct
• distinctive
• distinguishing
• identifying
• individual
• peculiar
• proper
• typical

Examples of symptomatic in a Sentence

a fever's refusal to respond to antibiotics is symptomatic of a viral infection

Recent Examples on the Web

But when the body’s fight-or-flight survival response doesn’t let up, temporary changes such as muscle tension, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat and edginess can give way to headaches, trouble sleeping, irritability, and the debilitating paralysis symptomatic of chronic anxiety or depression. —Sara Sidner, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025

Your blood shows a substantial spike in a chemical (typically tryptase) released by mast cells within four hours of a symptomatic episode. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 3 Dec. 2024

Among 1,700 trial participants with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease and amyloid and tau pathology, donanemab slowed the rates of cognitive and functional decline. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

The following day, the CDC disclosed two other symptomatic contacts. —Chloe Berger, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing symptomatic

• pre-symptomatic

Kids Definition

symptomatic

adjective

symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik 

1

a

: being a symptom (as of disease)

an itchy skin rash is symptomatic of poison ivy

b

: concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms

a symptomatic patient

2

: showing a quality or identity : characteristic

symptomatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

symptomatic

adjective

symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik 

1

a

: being a symptom of a disease

gummas symptomatic of syphilis

b

: having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause

symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage

2

: concerned with or affecting symptoms

symptomatic treatment

3

: having symptoms

a symptomatic patient

symptomatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb