idiopathic

[ id-ee-uh-path-ik ]

adjective

, Pathology.

1. of unknown cause, as a disease.

idiopathic

/ ĭd′ē-ə-păth′ĭk /

1. Relating to or being a disease having no known cause.

Other Words From

• idi·o·pathi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of idiopathic¹

First recorded in 1660–70; idio- + -pathic

Example Sentences

The radio legend was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a severe respiratory illness that can make breathing very difficult.

From BBC

Further serious health problems followed, including being diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension - a build-up of pressure around the brain - and fibromyalgia, a chronic condition causing widespread pain throughout the body.

From BBC

Furthermore, this model was specific to psychosis: It could not classify people with idiopathic autism or ADHD.

From Science Daily

The young girl was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in March 2020.

From Los Angeles Times

The cause was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, according to his wife, Constance DeJong, a sculptor.

From New York Times

Related Words

• anonymous
• exotic
• foreign
• nameless
• new
• remote
• strange
• uncharted
• undiscovered
• unexplained
• unexplored
• unfamiliar
• unidentified
• unnamed
• unrecognized