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
Danielle Wilhour, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2024
Most patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension have a history of obesity or recent weight gain.
—Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2024
White sun spots, clinically known as idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, occur in areas with less pigment.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 24 July 2024
Brando died on July 1, 2004, of a rare respiratory disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 17 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for idiopathic 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'idiopathic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Idiopathic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiopathic. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
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idiopathic
adjective
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