prognosis
Americannoun
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Medicine/Medical. a forecasting of the probable course and outcome of a disease, especially of the chances of recovery.
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a forecast or prognostication.
noun
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med
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a prediction of the course or outcome of a disease or disorder
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the chances of recovery from a disease
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any forecast or prediction
Discover More
Prognosis is often used as a general term for predicting the unfolding of events: “The governor said that the prognosis for the state's financial future is bleak.”
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of prognosis
First recorded in 1645–55; from Late Latin, from Greek prógnōsis “foreknowledge” opposed to pro- 2, gnosis
Explanation
If you come down with an illness, you might ask your doctor what your prognosis is. A prognosis is a prediction about the course of a disease. Prognosis comes from the Greek pro- "before" and gnosis "knowledge." It means to know beforehand, but keep in mind that it is only a probable outcome and not a sure thing. Financial analysts frequently change their prognosis of the economy as they hear each piece of good or bad economic news. And if the weather prognosis is sunny and dry, but you see dark clouds forming, you would be wise to pack an umbrella.
Vocabulary lists containing prognosis
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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.
See Examples For:
U.S. stock futures fell in early European trade as a rally in technology stocks lost steam ahead of earnings that will help shape investors’ prognosis for artificial-intelligence companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Facing a bleak prognosis, he went into hurry-up mode to provide security for his family — and information for his readers — as best he could in the time he had left.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
But its prognosis for victory would seem guarded at best.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The faster people receive treatment, the better their prognosis.
From Barron's ● May 4, 2026
“Though I was told his prognosis is not good.”
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
She said women from those groups were generally diagnosed at a later date as a result, leading to more invasive treatment and worse prognoses.
From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2024
However, Yeo said most tumors with poor prognoses are not always locatable or accessible.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 27, 2024
Through the long, wild ride, there were peaks and troughs, months of uncertainty, bailout talks, near-misses and dire prognoses.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 20, 2023
It’s an island of hope in a sea of dim prognoses for urban life.
From Slate ● Dec. 23, 2022
It had been Mrs. Richardson who had held her, Mrs. Richardson who had heard all the doctors’ prognoses, the dire warnings about what might be in store for her.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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.
