adj
congenital
kuhn-JEH-nihtl
adj
1
Present from birth, especially referring to a medical condition.
"The baby was born with a congenital heart defect."
How to Use Congenital
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a condition or trait someone is born with, rather than one they develop later.
Common mistake
Congenital just means "present at birth" — it doesn't necessarily mean inherited/genetic, since some congenital conditions are caused by things that happen in the womb.
Easily confused with
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The baby was born with a _____ heart defect.
Etymology
From Latin congenitus ("born together with"), from con- + genitus, past participle of gignere ("to beget").