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Glite Dictionary
idiopathic disease

idiopathic disease

1 8.6
A sickness that has no known cause
  • noun
  • /ˌɪdiəˈpæθɪk dɪˈziːz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : enfermedad idiopática
  • The doctors diagnosed her with an idiopathic disease.

Examples

  • Because the idiopathic disease has no known cause, treatment focuses on managing symptoms.

  • Researchers are still trying to understand the origins of this idiopathic disease.

  • The patient was diagnosed with an idiopathic disease after all known causes were ruled out.

  • Many patients suffer from idiopathic diseases that remain unexplained.

  • Doctors diagnosed her with an idiopathic disease that complicated her treatment.

  • Several patients suffer from an idiopathic disease that has no known cause.

  • Research continues to uncover the mysteries of idiopathic diseases and their impact on health.

Synonyms

idiopathy
vsidiopathic disease
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A disease with no known cause

focuses on internal dysfunction rather than spontaneous or merely obscure onset
idiopathic disorder
vsidiopathic disease
  • Specialized
8.4

A health problem with no known cause

is the term for a specific health problem rather than any broader medical condition

Surface Forms

idiopathic disease singular
idiopathic diseases plural

Morphology

idiopathic + disease

The noun phrase directly combines 'idiopathic' (arising without a known cause) with 'disease' to mean a disease without an identifiable cause, so the overall meaning is compositional. This follows a standard adjective + noun pattern and has clear cross-linguistic equivalents, so a learner who knows both constituents will understand the MWE even if the term is somewhat technical.

Etymology

The term idiopathic disease comes from Greek parts idio- and -pathic, which mean 'own' and 'suffering'. So it literally suggests a sickness that seems to come from a person's own body, and that is why we use it for a disease with 'no known cause'.