![]() It is composed of the Greek-based prefix a-, meaning “not” or “without,” and symptomatic. The word asymptomatic is first recorded in the 1930s. Many people may not know what the word means or, just as understandably, confuse it with other words-like asymptotic or asystematic-a confusion that indeed surfaces in our search data! An alternative way to refer to someone who is asymptomatic is “showing no symptoms.” Where does asymptomatic come from? When communicating important health and public safety information to the public, it can be effective to avoid a difficult, if useful, word like asymptomatic. (This is why it’s so important for people to practice social distancing and stay at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.) During a disease outbreak, an asymptomatic carrier of disease can still spread the disease and not even realize it. Let’s unpack that, just to be sure: You may not have symptoms of a disease (are asymptomatic), but you could still be infected by it.Īn asymptomatic person may experience symptoms later, or they may never show them. Just because someone is asymptomatic doesn’t mean they aren’t infected with a disease. Fever, chills, cough, aches, and fatigue are all common symptoms of flus and other viral infections, for example. In medicine, a symptom is something that indicates a person has a disease. What does asymptomatic mean?Īsymptomatic means “showing no evidence of disease”-that is, not showing any symptoms. We promise that knowing the deeper roots of these words will help you keep them apart-and build your vocabulary while doing it. Now, don’t be too daunted by all the etymology. ![]() Let’s break down these words, all the way down to their nuts and bolts. Words that are hard to spell, sound alike, aren’t commonly used everyday, and have very technical meanings? They’re confusing!Īnd the trio asymptomatic, asymptotic, and asystematic? Well, they make for a perfect storm of confusion. By John Kelly, Senior Research Editor at
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