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Congenital vs Adventitious - What's the difference?

congenital | adventitious |

As adjectives the difference between congenital and adventitious

is that congenital is present since birth while adventitious is from an external source; not innate or inherent, foreign.

congenital

English

Adjective

(-)
  • (of a trait) Present since birth.
  • adventitious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • From an external source; not innate or inherent, foreign.
  • Accidental, additional, appearing casually.
  • * 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, p. 30:
  • The adventitious disappearance of those nearer the the throne than the duke had, moreover, set tongues awagging.
  • (genetics, medicine) Not congenital; acquired.
  • (biology) Developing in an unusual place or from an unusual source.
  • * 1985 , , H. T. Clifford, & P. F. Yeo, The Families of the Monocotyledons , page 101
  • The Velloziaceae have evolved a woody stem which is covered with a layer of adventitious roots mingled with the fibres of the old leaf sheaths;

    Synonyms

    * (from an external source) extrinsic * accidental, spontaneous, sporadic * (not congenital) acquired

    Derived terms

    * adventitiously * adventitiousness