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

In the back is a manual 10-barrel brewing system responsible for beer like Pop Art – a low-ABV ale with Oregon fruits – and Lost in the Stratus, a hazy IPA with late-harvest Nelson Sauvin hops. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025

The elevated pub food in their kitchen is a great lunch spot and their beer program has something to satisfy everyone but many people come for their hoppy options, including their stunner The Substance ale and double IPA Swish. —Em Sauter, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

One answer: follow in the footsteps of charitably-minded breweries like Sierra Nevada — its Resilience IPA raised money for the victims of 2018’s Camp Fire – and Maui, whose Kokua beer helped victims of the 2023 Maui fires. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025

Jim James sings over a hypnotic acoustic guitar figure that will eventually spread out into a dance-y, freewheeling rock track with a swirling groove any prospective body-mover can get down to without unsettling their IPA. —Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 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.