congenital
adjective/kənˈdʒenɪtl/
/kənˈdʒenɪtl/
- (of a disease or medical condition) existing since or before birth
- congenital abnormalities
- Children born to mothers who smoked were at risk of congenital heart disease.
Extra ExamplesTopics Health problemsc2- Genetic screening can help reduce many congenital diseases.
- Her deafness was congenital.
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- [only before noun] existing as part of a person’s character and not likely to change
- She seems to have a congenital inability to tell the truth.
- [only before noun] (of a person) born with a particular illness
- (figurative) a congenital liar (= one who will not change)
- He's a congenital liar!
Word Originlate 18th cent.: from Latin congenitus, from con- ‘together’ + genitus (past participle of gignere ‘beget’) + -al.
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congenital