Word
asymptomatic
Phoneticsasymp·to·matic
US/ˌeɪˌsɪmptəˈmætɪk/
UK/ˌæsɪmptəmˈætɪk/
Definition
adj. describing a person who has a disease but does not show any symptoms. They feel perfectly fine but can still spread the illness to others.
adj. characterised by the absence of symptoms despite the presence of a disease or condition. Often used in medical contexts to describe individuals who are infectious without being aware of their status.
Examples
“Many people who get the virus are asymptomatic.”
“Health officials are concerned because asymptomatic carriers can spread the disease without showing any signs of being sick.”
“The study revealed that a significant percentage of the population remained asymptomatic throughout the incubation period, complicating efforts to trace the virus's spread through traditional symptom-based screening.”
Examples
simple
“Many people who get the virus are asymptomatic.”
contextual
“Health officials are concerned because asymptomatic carriers can spread the disease without showing any signs of being sick.”
complex
“The study revealed that a significant percentage of the population remained asymptomatic throughout the incubation period, complicating efforts to trace the virus's spread through traditional symptom-based screening.”
Real-World Examples
“Infected individuals are contagious 3-5 days before symptoms occur, a transmission mechanism known as asymptomatic spread.” “Smith said about 10% of the posts were doctors from claiming the test could be useful for asymptomatic screening and that most of these were from the US.” Etymology
PIE word *ḱóm The adjective is derived from a- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + symptomatic. The noun is derived from the adjective.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/asymptomatic