diagnosis

noun

di·​ag·​no·​sis ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs How to pronounce diagnosis (audio)
-əg-
plural diagnoses ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-ˌsēz How to pronounce diagnosis (audio)
-əg-
1
a
: the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms
b
: the decision reached by diagnosis
the doctor's diagnosis
2
a
: investigation or analysis of the cause or nature of a condition, situation, or problem
diagnosis of engine trouble
b
: a statement or conclusion from such an analysis
3
biology : a concise technical description of a taxon

Examples of diagnosis in a Sentence

The unusual combination of symptoms made accurate diagnosis difficult. She is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. The diagnosis was a mild concussion. His doctor made an initial diagnosis of pneumonia. The committee published its diagnosis of the problems affecting urban schools.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For a multiple myeloma diagnosis, your healthcare provider will take a sample of bone marrow.2 Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue in the center of your bones. Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 24 Jan. 2025 Sometimes it’s treated as a tragedy, a kind of death sentence—especially a premature menopause diagnosis when pregnancy was suspected instead (Dead to Me, Mr. Plankton). Jennifer Vineyard, Flow Space, 24 Jan. 2025 As first-time diagnoses surged among older people, prevalence has remained consistent among children, at around 11 percent in the United States and 5 percent in Britain. Ellen Barry, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 Through the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the secretary yields broad power in allocating funding and promoting study of the causes, diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of diseases. Angela Mattie, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for diagnosis 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek diagnōsis, from diagignōskein to distinguish, from dia- + gignōskein to know — more at know

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of diagnosis was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near diagnosis

Cite this Entry

“Diagnosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagnosis. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

diagnosis

noun
di·​ag·​no·​sis ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs How to pronounce diagnosis (audio)
plural diagnoses -ˈnō-ˌsēz How to pronounce diagnosis (audio)
1
a
: the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms
b
: the decision reached by diagnosis
2
a
: a careful study of something especially to determine its nature or importance
b
: the conclusion reached after a study or examination

Medical Definition

diagnosis

noun
di·​ag·​no·​sis ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs, -əg- How to pronounce diagnosis (audio)
plural diagnoses -ˌsēz How to pronounce diagnosis (audio)
1
a
: the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms
b
: the decision reached by diagnosis
a diagnosis of pneumonia
2
: a concise technical description of a taxon

More from Merriam-Webster on diagnosis

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