Definition of Congenital

Parenting Principles Slideshow Parenting and Healthy Eating Slideshow Parenting - Fitness and Exercise Slideshow

Congenital: Present at birth. A condition that is congenital is one that is present at birth. There are numerous uses of "congenital" in medicine. There are, for example, congenital abnormalities. (For more examples, see below.)

Versus "genetic": One dictionary erroneously defines "congenital" as meaning: "Occurring prior to birth, due to parent's genetic input." Congenital does not mean genetic. Something that is congenital may or may not be genetic (inherited). For example, congenital syphilis is present at birth but is not genetic.

Timing: Something that is congenital may or may not occur "prior to birth." The essential feature is that it is there at birth (if not before).

Etymology: Congenital comes from the Latin congenitus which is made up of com-, with + genitus, the past participle of gignere, to bring forth. The word "congenital" has not been used in English since its birth but first appeared in 1796. The term "congenital" is synonymous with "innate."

Examples of terms using the word "congenital:

• Congenital achromatopsia
• Congenital anemia and triphalangeal thumbs
• Congenital anomaly
• Congenital arthrogryposis
• Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome
• Congenital clasped thumb with mental retardation
• Congenital deafness
• Congenital defect
• Congenital heart disease
• Congenital hemolytic jaundice
• Congenital hip dislocation
• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Congenital malformation
• Congenital neutropenia
• Congenital ptosis of the eyelids
• Congenital torticollis