asymptomatic

adjective

asymp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌā-ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce asymptomatic (audio)
: not causing, marked by, or presenting with signs or symptoms of infection, illness, or disease
asymptomatic carriers of contagious disease
Acute infection is usually asymptomatic, making early diagnosis difficult.—Francis V. Chisari
Because gonorrhea is often asymptomatic in women, it can progress painlessly until the result is pelvic inflammatory disease with its sequelae of infertility or ectopic pregnancy.—Marsha F. Goldsmith
Most patients with gallstones remain asymptomatic for many years and may, in fact, never develop symptoms.—The Journal of the American Medical Association
Many of the fecal samples positive for Giardia were from asymptomatic pets.—Lawrence M. Fox
asymptomatically
ˌā-ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce asymptomatic (audio)
adverb
asymptomatically infected children
The virus may be carried asymptomatically.

Examples of asymptomatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Requiring dairy farms to regularly test all their animals, including asymptomatic ones, is not logistically feasible given the current capacity of state veterinary diagnostic laboratories, Poulsen said. —Megan Molteni, STAT, 25 Apr. 2024 Because of his age and his medical history, Mr. Pryor was hospitalized for a time in Little Rock; his wife, who was asymptomatic, remained at home. —Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for asymptomatic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asymptomatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of asymptomatic was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near asymptomatic

asymmetry

asymptomatic

asymptote

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Asymptomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asymptomatic. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

asymptomatic

adjective
asymp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌā-ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce asymptomatic (audio)
: presenting no signs of disease

Medical Definition

asymptomatic

adjective
asymp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌā-ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce asymptomatic (audio)
: not causing, marked by, or presenting with signs or symptoms of infection, illness, or disease
asymptomatic carriers of contagious disease
Decisions regarding the discontinuation of anticoagulation in such patients remain clinically challenging, requiring physicians to weigh the risk of bleeding against the risk of a stroke from asymptomatic arrhythmia.—Rodney H. Falk, The New England Journal of Medicine
Acute infection is usually asymptomatic, making early diagnosis difficult.—Francis V. Chisari, Nature
However, 10% to 25% of patients with Barrett's esophagus are completely asymptomatic.—Scientific American Medicine Bulletin
Red blood cell transfusions for chronic stable anemia in the asymptomatic patient are not clinically beneficial and will unnecessarily increase the patient's risk for infection, immunization to blood antigens, or hemosiderosis.—The Journal of the American Medical Association
asymptomatically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce asymptomatic (audio)
adverb
asymptomatically infected adults

More from Merriam-Webster on asymptomatic

Britannica English: Translation of asymptomatic for Arabic Speakers

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