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

abbreviation

individual practice association

Examples of IPA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sink into a gray velvet settee, order an IPA from Atlanta’s Monday Night Brewing, and enjoy the views of the hotel’s three-story waterfall and Japanese Zen garden outside. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

There were four kinds of Stone craft beers avalable including a citrus-forward IPA, a pale ale and west coast IPA. — Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Resurgence Brewing Company, in partnership with the Bisons, started making Conehead IPA in 2018 and later rebranded it as Legend of the Cone. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Bar Americano, located on the lawn between the Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art, sells several types of alcoholic beverages, including an IPA, wheat, lager, sour and cider. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

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

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.