definitions

false-positive

[ fawls-poz-i-tiv ]
/ ˈfɔlsˈpɒz ɪ tɪv /

noun Also false positive.

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.
  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

pertaining to or being a false-positive: The test has a false-positive rate of 4%.

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Nearby words

false-card, false-hearted, false-memory syndrome, false-negative, false-negative reaction, false-positive, false-positive reaction, false-start, falsehood, falseness, falsetto
Compare false-negative.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for false positive

false positive

noun

a result in a medical test that wrongly indicates the presence of the condition being tested for
a person from whom such a result is obtained
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for false positive

false positive

n.

A positive test result in a subject that does not possess the attribute for which the test is being conducted.
Related formsfalse′-pos•i•tive adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.