adjective
- of or relating to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, especially the uterine environment.
- having by nature a specified character: a congenital fool.
adjective
- denoting or relating to any nonhereditary condition, esp an abnormal condition, existing at birthcongenital blindness
- informal complete, as if from birtha congenital idiot
adj.“existing from birth,” 1796, from Latin congenitus, from com- “together, with” (see com-) + genitus, past participle of gignere “to beget” (see genus). The sense formerly belonged to congenial. Related: Congenitally. adj.
- Existing at or before birth usually through heredity, as a disorder.
- Acquired at birth or during uterine development, usually as a result of environmental influences.
- Existing at or before birth, as a defect or medical condition.
A descriptive term for a disease or condition that is present at birth. A congenital disease can be either hereditary or acquired.