IPA

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˌī-(ˌ)pē-ˈā 

plural IPAs

: a pale ale made with extra hops : india pale ale

American beers, especially IPAs, are still quite hoppy …

—Lauren Buzzeo

IPA

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˌī-(ˌ)pē-ˈā 

: an alphabet designed to represent each human speech sound with a unique symbol

IPA

3 of 3

abbreviation

individual practice association

Examples of IPA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Breweries offer pies to scarf down with their IPA concoctions. —Bill Field, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025

Squatch’s deodorants come in unique scents such as Grapefruit IPA and Birchwood Breeze. —Laura Harold, Outside Online, 14 June 2025

Quick Sips: The Suds of Summer Beer: Spirit of the West From: Westbound & Down, Lafayette, Colo. Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.8 percent Style: New Zealand-style IPA Drink or dump: Drink. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025

Double Tasty West Coast Style IPA is the latest beverage to join the brand’s three other flavors, which include Noon Wheat, Edgy Hill Hazy IPA and Kingston Golden Pils. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 10 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

India Pale Ale

Noun (2)

International Phonetic Alphabet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1893, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1933, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

IPA

abbreviation

independent practice association; individual practice association

Note: An independent practice association is made up of a group of physicians in private practice who join in an association that contracts with a managed health-care plan (as an HMO) to provide medical services to patients enrolled in the plan.