IPA

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˌī-(ˌ)pē-ˈā

plural IPAs

: a pale ale made with extra hops : india pale ale

American beers, especially IPAs, are still quite hoppy …—Lauren Buzzeo

IPA

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˌī-(ˌ)pē-ˈā

: an alphabet designed to represent each human speech sound with a unique symbol

IPA

3 of 3

Examples of IPA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Noun

Ribs practically cry out for a hoppy IPA, though a Belgian-style Tripel or Dubbel pairs well, too. — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 1 June 2026 Plenty of that yuppie American IPA remained. — Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 19 June 2026 Go for the bold, unique brews, like the Blizzard of ’67 (named after an infamous winter storm), a hazy triple IPA with orange, pineapple, and mango notes. — Midwest Living, 1 July 2026 Wash it down with standout brews like the Blueberry Fruit Tart and Wild Wanderer, an IPA with notes of citrus, pine, and grapefruit. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for IPA

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

India Pale Ale

Noun (2)

International Phonetic Alphabet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1893, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of IPA was in 1893

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Browse Nearby Words

IPA

IP address

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Cite this Entry

Style

“IPA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/IPA. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

IPA

abbreviation

independent practice association; individual practice association

Note: An independent practice association is made up of a group of physicians in private practice who join in an association that contracts with a managed health care plan (as an HMO) to provide medical services to patients enrolled in the plan.

IPA

noun (1)

noun (2)

abbreviation

Examples of IPA in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

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