WordValeidiopathic
of a disease arising from an unknown cause
In more detail
(adjective) (of a disease or condition) arising spontaneously or from an unknown cause, without an identifiable external cause or preceding disease
Examples
- The patient was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, meaning the doctors could not determine why her lungs were scarring.
How to use idiopathic
Idiopathic is used in medical and scientific contexts to describe diseases or conditions whose cause cannot be determined despite investigation. It is more precise than simply saying 'unknown cause' because it specifically indicates that the condition arises without an identifiable underlying disease or external trigger. The term is standard in clinical diagnosis and medical documentation.
Common phrases
- idiopathic disease
- idiopathic condition
- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- idiopathic thrombocytopenia
- idiopathic scoliosis
Synonyms
spontaneous · of unknown origin · unexplained · primary
Opposites
secondary · symptomatic
Word family
idiopathy (noun) · idiopathically (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse idiopathic with idiosyncratic; idiopathic refers to disease causation, while idiosyncratic means characteristic of an individual or unusual.
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