prognosis
Americannoun
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Medicine/Medical. a forecasting of the probable course and outcome of a disease, especially of the chances of recovery.
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a forecast or prognostication.
noun
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med
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a prediction of the course or outcome of a disease or disorder
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the chances of recovery from a disease
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any forecast or prediction
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Prognosis is often used as a general term for predicting the unfolding of events: “The governor said that the prognosis for the state's financial future is bleak.”
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prognosis
First recorded in 1645–55; from Late Latin, from Greek prógnōsis “foreknowledge” opposed to pro- 2, gnosis
Explanation
If you come down with an illness, you might ask your doctor what your prognosis is. A prognosis is a prediction about the course of a disease. Prognosis comes from the Greek pro- "before" and gnosis "knowledge." It means to know beforehand, but keep in mind that it is only a probable outcome and not a sure thing. Financial analysts frequently change their prognosis of the economy as they hear each piece of good or bad economic news. And if the weather prognosis is sunny and dry, but you see dark clouds forming, you would be wise to pack an umbrella.
Vocabulary lists containing prognosis
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Conducted through the international Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium, the research is the largest investigation so far to examine how differences between these two tests relate to long-term health outcomes.
From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026
Prognosis: Snapchat should recover if it survives the winter.
From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2022
"It speaks to the perspective that businesses have of the market, and it's not very flattering," said Carlos Fritsch, director of Mexican firm Prognosis.
From Reuters • Aug. 26, 2022
Prognosis, she knew, was an imperfect science, but she recalled the oncologist saying he thought she had six to eight months to live.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2022
Prognosis: Correspondence between you and your sister cannot serve anything but a purely social function.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
