A congenital disease or medical condition is one that a person has had from birth, but is not inherited.
[medicine]
When John was 17, he died of congenital heart disease.
Synonyms: inborn, innate, inherent, hereditary More Synonyms of congenital
congenitallyadverb [ADVERB adjective/-ed]
...congenitally deaf patients.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A congenital characteristic or feature in a person is so strong that you cannot imagine it ever changing, although there may seem to be no reason for it.
He was a congenital liar and usually in debt.
congenitallyadverb
I admit to being congenitally lazy.
More Synonyms of congenital
congenital in British English
(kənˈdʒɛnɪtəl)
adjective
1.
denoting or relating to any nonhereditary condition, esp an abnormal condition, existing at birth
congenital blindness
2. informal
complete, as if from birth
a congenital idiot
Derived forms
congenitally (conˈgenitally)
adverb
congenitalness (conˈgenitalness)
noun
Word origin
C18: from Latin congenitus born together with, from genitus born, from gignere to bear, beget
congenital in American English
(kənˈdʒɛnətəl)
adjective
1.
existing as such at birth
a congenital disease
2.
existing as if inborn; inherent
a congenital cheerfulness
SIMILAR WORDS: inˈnate
Derived forms
congenitally (conˈgenitally)
adverb
Word origin
< L congenitus, born together with < com-, together + genitus: see genital
Examples of 'congenital' in a sentence
congenital
Born with a congenital defect, he had to undergo open heart surgery to repair two holes before he reached six months.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The prevalence of congenital heart disease depends therefore upon the age at which it is measured.
Petch, Dr Michael BMA Family Doctor Guide - Heart Disease (1989)
There are others whose attitudes to their congenital condition are in sharp contrast to this.
Pearson, Althea Growing Through Loss and Grief (1994)
Within two days we knew that what was up was a serious congenital heart defect.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Most congenital conditions occur because the heart or its valves and vessels are not properly formed.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It was nine years since she had had a heart valve inserted to counter a congenital defect.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Birth involving such close relations doubles risk of congenital defects.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In some cases recurrence is a symptom of a congenital abnormality, which may need surgery.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It's a congenital condition which meant his bowel would be born outside his body.
The Sun (2015)
The Rotherham inquest heard she died suddenly from undiagnosed congenital heart disease.
The Sun (2013)
More complex forms of congenital heart disease account for less than 10%.
Petch, Dr Michael BMA Family Doctor Guide - Heart Disease (1989)
Higher risk of congenital defects.
The Sun (2009)
Presumably, the remaining 5.4 per cent admitted to being congenital liars.
The Sun (2014)
After that it was obvious to doctors that it might be a congenital condition that I had passed down to him.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
1 (adjective)
Definition
(of an abnormal condition) existing at birth but not inherited
She has a congenital disease.
Synonyms
inborn
It is clear that the ability to smile is inborn.
innate
As a race, they have an innate sense of fairness.
inherent
the dangers inherent in an outbreak of war
hereditary
In men, hair loss is hereditary.
natural
He has a natural flair for business.
constitutional
inherited
inbred
behaviour patterns that are inbred
hard-wired
2 (adjective)
(informal)
He is a congenital liar.
Synonyms
complete
He made me look like a complete idiot.
confirmed
I'm a confirmed bachelor.
chronic
He has always been a chronic smoker.
utter
A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
hardened
hardened criminals
thorough
I was a thorough little academic snob.
habitual
Three out of four of them would become habitual criminals.
incurable
He's an incurable romantic.
inveterate
an inveterate liar
incorrigible
Gamblers are incorrigible optimists.
deep-dyed
Additional synonyms
in the sense of chronic
Definition
(of a bad habit or bad behaviour) having continued for a long time