idiopathic
adjective
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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
Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2024
Narcolepsy often begins to appear at ages 10-25.1 For idiopathic hypersomnia, the age of onset is also in adolescence or young adulthood.13
Hypersomnia and Narcolepsy Both Have a Genetic Component
Both conditions have a genetic component.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 3 May 2025
Unlike narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia does not involve cataplexy or sudden sleep attacks.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 12 Feb. 2025
While the exact cause of idiopathic PAH is not known, experts believe environmental triggers and genetics may play a role.1
2.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idiopathic
Cite this Entry
“Idiopathic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiopathic. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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idiopathic
adjective
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