diagnosis

[ dahy-uhg-noh-sis ]

noun

, plural di·ag·no·ses [dahy-, uh, g-, noh, -seez].

1. Medicine/Medical.
   1. the process of determining by examination the nature and circumstances of a diseased condition.
   2. the decision reached from such an examination. : Dx
2. Biology. scientific determination; a description that classifies a group or taxon precisely.
3. a determining or analysis of the cause or nature of a problem or situation.
4. an answer or solution to a problematic situation.

diagnosis

/ ˌdaɪəɡˈnəʊsɪs /

noun

1. 1. the identification of diseases by the examination of symptoms and signs and by other investigations
   2. an opinion or conclusion so reached
2. 1. thorough analysis of facts or problems in order to gain understanding and aid future planning
   2. an opinion or conclusion reached through such analysis
3. a detailed description of an organism, esp a plant, for the purpose of classification

diagnosis

/ dī′əg-nō′sĭs /

, Plural diagnoses dī′əg-nō′sēz

1. The identification by a medical provider of a condition, disease, or injury made by evaluating the symptoms and signs presented by a patient.

Confusables Note

Although diagnosis and prognosis are both very familiar medical terms, they are sometimes used interchangeably (by nonmedical people), as if they were synonymous words. They are not. When a person is unwell and asks a doctor what is wrong with them, what they are asking for is a diagnosis. Examining the symptoms, as with a thermometer or stethoscope, and evaluating the results of a procedure such as a throat culture, blood test, or x-ray will help the doctor identify the patient’s illness. Whatever that ailment may be, the identification, or naming of it, is the diagnosis. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was very disheartening. The diagnosis is an acute case of tendinitis. Once a patient has been given a diagnosis, the next thing they’ll want to know is what sort of an outcome they can expect, which means they want to know the prognosis. Unlike diagnoses, which are conclusively based on tangible evidence, prognoses are reasonable predictions based on past observations of similar cases. A prognosis gives the patient an idea of what to expect about the course of their illness, including the probability of recovery. As ailments range from the most superficial to the most life-threatening, it is typical for the word prognosis to be qualified by such adjectives as excellent, favorable, good, positive, negative, poor, dire, grim. Doctors will never tire of telling us, “Early detection and treatment are your best bets for a positive prognosis.” And no one wants to say, “The prognosis was so poor that he could no longer hide his condition from his family.” In nonmedical contexts, diagnosis still carries its meaning of naming or identifying something, especially when that involves a situation or problem. When our computer kept crashing, the tech said that nearby UFO activity could be the reason, so we got another tech—and a proper, earthbound diagnosis! Likewise, prognosis is used outside of medical contexts, retaining its meaning of reasonable prediction. As a lover of pesticide-free smoothies, I’m pleased to say that the prognosis for the future of organic farming has never been better.

Other Words From

• pre·di·ag·no·sis noun plural prediagnoses

Word History and Origins

Origin of diagnosis¹

First recorded in 1675–85; from New Latin, from Greek diágnōsis “a distinguishing, means or power of discernment”; dia-, -gnosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of diagnosis¹

C17: New Latin, from Greek: a distinguishing, from diagignōskein to distinguish, from gignōskein to perceive, know

Example Sentences

A lengthy series of objective tests may lead to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

From Nautilus

Even when diagnoses of mental illness are made, laws around the world are supposed to prevent discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere.

From MIT Technology Review

Such research may inform diagnosis and treatment of human infertility, Pacey says.

From Science News

An especially astute doctor might be able to see a patient’s symptoms and try to make a clairvoyant diagnosis.

From Everything After Z

The software doesn’t have to account for every possible diagnosis, like infectious diseases from the tropics.

From Science News

Diagnosis of CTE is often considered to be specialized and has to occur at a designated institution like Boston University.

From The Daily Beast

The official diagnosis: a mono-like virus that makes you really, really tired.

From The Daily Beast

Those of us who are committed to this issue see it the same light you might if you got a fatal cancer diagnosis for your child.

From The Daily Beast

I recall being taught during my medical education that a likely diagnosis was neurofibromatosis type 1.

From The Daily Beast

Accompanying this diagnosis was a description of what her particular death would be like.

From The Daily Beast

In the early stages of chronic nephritis, when diagnosis is difficult, it is usually normal.

From Project Gutenberg

In pernicious anemia they are always greatly diminished, and an increase should exclude the diagnosis of this disease.

From Project Gutenberg

Directions for preparing it are given in most of the newer large text-books upon clinical diagnosis.

From Project Gutenberg

A marked lymphocyte leukocytosis occurs in pertussis, and is of value in diagnosis.

From Project Gutenberg

When applied to the diagnosis of typhoid fever, the phenomenon is known as the Widal reaction.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• analysis
• conclusion
• examination
• interpretation
• investigation

What Is The Plural Of Diagnosis?

Plural word for diagnosis

The plural form of diagnosis is diagnoses, pronounced [ dahy-uhg-noh-seez ]. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -is are also formed in this way, including hypothesis/hypotheses, crisis/crises, and axis/axes. A similar change is made when pluralizing appendix as appendices. 

Irregular plurals that are formed like diagnoses derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin and Greek.