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

Example Sentences

Nine years ago, heads rolled after the BBC was found guilty of making a false positive, of running an inaccurate story.

From The Daily Beast

It is much less likely to produce a false positive, adds Dr. Thompson, than an initial screening test would be.

From The Daily Beast

It's called "the paradox of the false positive," and it's a doozy.

From Project Gutenberg