prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses präg-ˈnō-ˌsēz 

1

: the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case

2

: forecast, prognostication

Did you know?

Prognosis Is Not Just a Medical Term

With its prefix pro-, meaning "before", prognosis means basically "knowledge beforehand" of how a situation is likely to turn out. Prognosis was originally a strictly medical term, but it soon broadened to include predictions made by experts of all kinds. Thus, for example, economists are constantly offering prognoses (notice the irregular plural form) about where the economy is going, and climate scientists regularly prognosticate about how quickly the earth's atmosphere is warming.

Synonyms

• auguring
• augury
• bodement
• cast
• forecast
• forecasting
• foretelling
• predicting
• prediction
• presaging
• prognostic
• prognosticating
• prognostication
• prophecy
• prophesy
• soothsaying
• vaticination

Examples of prognosis in a Sentence

Right now, doctors say his prognosis is good.

The president had a hopeful prognosis about the company's future.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hospice care is a type of end-of-life care that is provided when a person is nearing the end of their life, typically with a prognosis of six months or less to live, according to the release. —Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025

Believing his prognosis was terminal, Fenn originally planned to write the puzzle poem, hide the treasure, and eventually hike back out to that same location and take his own life, hoping someone would one day discover the riches that remained at his final resting spot. —Megan McCluskey, Time, 27 Mar. 2025

Additionally, Achatz — looking back on how his cancer journey could’ve gone — is stressing the importance of advocating for one's health, even when the prognosis may be grim. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 25 Mar. 2025

This type usually has a better prognosis (outlook). —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek prognōsis, literally, foreknowledge, from progignōskein to know before, from pro- + gignōskein to know — more at know

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prognosis

• cirrhosis
• fibrosis
• gliosis
• hypnosis
• ichthyosis
• ketosis
• kurtosis
• lordosis
• meiosis
• miosis
• mitosis
• mycosis

Kids Definition

prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses -ˈnō-ˌsēz 

1

: the prospect of recovery of an individual who has a disease based on the usual course of the disease and the characteristics of the individual who is sick

2

: forecast entry 2

Medical Definition

prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses -ˌsēz 

1

: the act or art of foretelling the course of a disease

2

: the prospect of survival and recovery from a disease as anticipated from the usual course of that disease or indicated by special features of the case

the prognosis is poor because of the accompanying cardiovascular disease

—P. A. Mead et al.