false-positive

American  

[fawls-poz-i-tiv] / ˈfɔlsˈpɒz ɪ tɪv /

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.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or being a false-positive.

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

false positive British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of false-positive

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Pangram claims a false-positive rate of 1 in 10,000 for all forms of writing and 1 in 100,000 for news articles, based on a test of content published before ChatGPT’s 2022 debut.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

With the passage of two years’ time, it turns out that 35% of the patients whose Galleri test was initially thought to be just a false-positive, did indeed turn out to have cancer.

From Barron's • Oct. 22, 2025

Interestingly, the study notes that as these mutations are common in the sperm, it may look like some genes cause false-positive disease association due to the elevated mutation rate rather than a true disease link.

From Science Daily • Oct. 19, 2025

When I asked—a little hesitantly—she told me that she’s phased out the DRE for her patients in favor of a blood test that, while not foolproof, is less likely to result in false-positive results.

From Slate • Aug. 17, 2024

The possibility of false-positive results is high, as is the likelihood that older adults won’t understand the significance of their results, they say.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 29, 2023