congenital

adjective

con·​gen·​i·​tal kən-ˈje-nə-tᵊl How to pronounce congenital (audio)
kän-
1
a
: existing at or dating from birth
congenital deafness
… a congenital neuromuscular disease that stiffens joints and weakens muscles.Lara Cerri
… scientists hope to also understand more common malformations that are congenital but not inherited.Lee Siegel
The skin markings are a benign congenital developmental condition and, on palpation, feel no different to normal skin.Elizabeth Symes
b
: constituting an essential characteristic : inherent
A congenital taste for Greco-Roman themes, which had once found expression in his own paintings, now took the form of a pronounced weakness for buying up statuettes and medallions depicting gods and heroes of classical times.Anthony Powell
At each roll, the ship favored its congenital list, easing farther and farther toward that soft starboard side …Robert Stone
c
: acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity
Antiparasitic treatment is recommended in acute or congenital infection, in children with chronic infection, and in immunosuppressed patients.Eric M. Isselbacher et al.
PCBs pass through the placenta, cause congenital poisoning, and remain in human tissues for long intervals.Scientific American Medicine Bulletin
2
: being such by nature
a congenital liar
The truth was that Ward was a congenital name-dropper and snob who—though he was undoubtedly treated unfairly—largely brought his troubles upon himself.Anthony Howard
congenitally adverb
congenitally deaf
Gwynn, who seems congenitally incapable of a frown, didn't mention the matter until I brought it up. Roger Angell
Choose the Right Synonym for congenital

innate, inborn, inbred, congenital, hereditary mean not acquired after birth.

innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

inborn suggests a quality or tendency either actually present at birth or so marked and deep-seated as to seem so.

her inborn love of nature

inbred suggests something either acquired from parents by heredity or so deeply rooted and ingrained as to seem acquired in that way.

inbred political loyalties

congenital and hereditary refer to what is acquired before or at birth, the former to things acquired during fetal development and the latter to things transmitted from one's ancestors.

a congenital heart murmur
eye color is hereditary

Examples of congenital in a Sentence

The irregularity in my backbone is probably congenital. a congenital liar who couldn't speak the truth if his life depended on it
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ava Cooper, a 10-year-old from Akron, was born with several congenital heart defects. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025 Billy was born in April 2017 and was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect (called Tetralogy of Fallot with VSD) and underwent his first surgery just hours after being born. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 She was born with a cytomegalovirus infection, or congenital CMV, and died following complications from surgery. Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025 The foundation has raised and given away more than $8 million to support families of children with congenital heart disease and Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, where Olsen’s son TJ has been cared for for years. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for congenital

Word History

Etymology

Latin congenitus, from com- + genitus, past participle of gignere to bring forth — more at kin

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of congenital was in 1796

Cite this Entry

“Congenital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/congenital. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

congenital

adjective
con·​gen·​i·​tal kən-ˈjen-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce congenital (audio)
: existing at or dating from birth
congenital heart disease

Medical Definition

congenital

adjective
con·​gen·​i·​tal kän-ˈjen-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce congenital (audio)
1
: existing at or dating from birth
congenital deafness
congenital heart disease
2
: acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity
Our study primarily aimed to find out the birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasma infection in live neonates …Morten Lebech et al., The Lancet
compare acquired sense 1, familial, hereditary
congenitally adverb
congenitally deaf
a congenitally faulty heart valve

More from Merriam-Webster on congenital

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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