/ kənˈdʒenɪtl; NAmE / adjective
1.
( of a disease or medical condition ) existing since or before birth :
congenital abnormalities
2.
[ only before noun ] existing as part of a person's character and not likely to change :
a congenital inability to tell the truth
3.
[ only before noun ] ( of a person ) born with a particular illness :
( figurative )
a congenital liar (= one who will not change)
► con·geni·tal·ly / -təli; NAmE / adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: from Latin congenitus , from con- together + genitus (past participle of gignere beget) + -al .