misdiagnosis

noun

mis·​di·​ag·​no·​sis ˌmis-ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs How to pronounce misdiagnosis (audio)
-əg-
plural misdiagnoses ˌmis-ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-ˌsēz How to pronounce misdiagnosis (audio)
-əg-
: an incorrect diagnosis
Misdiagnosis can easily occur unless the veterinarian is alert to the possibility of Lyme disease.Suzanne Clothier et al.
The court also stated that experts can be sued for negligence resulting from their misdiagnoses.Mark Hansen

Examples of misdiagnosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In one case, a misdiagnosis led to a patient’s bladder being removed, according to the report and the people. Katie Shepherd, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024 The issue stems from a misdiagnosis in the battery management electronics, which could cause the control unit to reset and in turn create an interruption in electrical power. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 11 Jan. 2023 One prominent misdiagnosis occurred in 2004, when Dr. Claudia Lacson — pregnant with her first child — fell into a coma in Georgia after complaining of severe headaches and a persistent fever. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024 This disparity can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment by white doctors who may not know or understand how skin conditions manifest in darker skin. Melissa Noel, Essence, 13 Mar. 2024 This disparity can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment from white doctors who may not know or understand how skin ailments manifest in darker skin. Char Adams, NBC News, 11 Mar. 2024 Further Reading Florida malaria outbreak still going, with local cases now at 7 The misdiagnosis led the patient to a weeks-long treatment for the wrong infection and held up public health responses to pinpoint and thwart further transmission. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2023 Halle Berry said a herpes misdiagnosis about three years ago prompted her to use her platform to help other women transitioning through menopause. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024 Being unable to communicate their signs and symptoms of wellness or illness can lead to misdiagnosis. Jennifer "jay" Palumbo, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'misdiagnosis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misdiagnosis was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near misdiagnosis

Cite this Entry

“Misdiagnosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misdiagnosis. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

misdiagnosis

noun
mis·​di·​ag·​no·​sis (ˌ)mis-ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs How to pronounce misdiagnosis (audio)
plural misdiagnoses -ˌsēz How to pronounce misdiagnosis (audio)
: an incorrect diagnosis
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!