idiopathic

adjective

id·​i·​o·​path·​ic ˌi-dē-ə-ˈpa-thik 

1

: arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause : primary

idiopathic epilepsy

2

: peculiar to the individual

idiopathically

ˌi-dē-ə-ˈpa-thi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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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

Recent Examples on the Web

Common Symptoms Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2024

While most muscle cramps occur due to idiopathic (unknown) causes, they are often linked with factors such as exercise, muscle overuse, straining, and diet. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 1 Oct. 2024

The drug also aims to treat idiopathic hypersomnia, or IH. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2024

Optic neuritis can be idiopathic and resolve within a year. —Katie Gutierrez, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Medical Definition

idiopathic

adjective

id·​io·​path·​ic ˌid-ē-ə-ˈpath-ik 

: arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause : primary

idiopathic epilepsy

idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

idiopathically

-ˈpath-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb