- Of or relating to a condition that is present at birth, as a result of either heredity or environmental influences: a congenital heart defect; congenital syphilis.
- Being or having an essential characteristic as if by nature; inherent or inveterate: "the congenital American optimism that denies conflicts and imagines all stories having happy endings" (Robert J. Samuelson). See synonyms at innate.
[From Latin congenitus : com-, com- + genitus, born, past participle of gignere, to bear.]
congenitally con·gen'i·tal·ly adv.




