false-positive

[fawls-poz-i-tiv]

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a test result that is incorrect because the test indicated a condition or finding that does not exist.

      a false-positive for syphilis.

   2. a person who receives this test result.

2. 1. any screening test result that incorrectly detected or classified a person or thing.

      A false-positive at the airport could cause you to miss your flight.

   2. a person or thing identified by such a test.

adjective

1. pertaining to or being a false-positive.

   The test has a false-positive rate of 4%.

false positive

noun

1. a result in a medical test that wrongly indicates the presence of the condition being tested for

2. a person from whom such a result is obtained

Word History and Origins

Origin of false-positive¹

First recorded in 1910–15