evaluation
Americannoun
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an act or instance of evaluating or appraising.
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(especially in medicine) a diagnosis or diagnostic study of a physical or mental condition.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of evaluation
From the French word évaluation, dating back to 1745–55. See e- 1, valuation
Compare meaning
How does evaluation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An evaluation is an appraisal of something to determine its worth or fitness. For example, before you start an exercise program, get a medical evaluation, to make sure you're able to handle the activity. At the heart of the noun evaluation is the root word value, which means "worth." So an evaluation is an examination to find the worth of something. We do this every day — maybe making an evaluation of the prices in a store to decide whether or not to shop there. We might get an appraisal of our property, which is an evaluation to determine its worth in preparation for taking out a mortgage. Evaluation is vital in planning our lives.
Vocabulary lists containing evaluation
Out of My Mind
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ion, -tion, -ation
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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.
"These findings highlight a potential dose-dependent safety concern that warrants urgent prospective evaluation to guide prescribing and regulatory policy."
From Science Daily • May 23, 2026
A spokesperson for MSD -- known as Merck in North America -- told AFP that independent data on non-Zaire strains such as Bundibugyo is "limited, not from humans and not from evaluation of Ervebo".
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
"A reliance solely on instant answers risks losing the habits of questioning and evaluation that underpin knowledge, expertise and innovation," he said.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
Maria Tran worked at John George Psychiatric Pavilion and met the deputy after he brought an inmate there for an evaluation.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
As Mr. Sedaris I made it a point to type up a poorly spelled evaluation of each submitted story.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
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.
