adj
Common
diagnostic
deye-uhg-NOS-tihk
Diagnostic (adj) means relating to, or used in, diagnosis. Example: “The doctor ordered several diagnostic tests to find out why he felt so tired.”
adj
1
Relating to, or used in, diagnosis.
"The doctor ordered several diagnostic tests to find out why he felt so tired."
"Hospitals rely on diagnostic imaging to spot problems that cannot be seen from the outside."
"The clinic invested in new diagnostic equipment for scanning patients."
2
Designed to assess someone's existing knowledge or skill.
"The teacher gave us a short diagnostic quiz to see which topics needed extra practice."
"A diagnostic assessment helped the language school place each new student in the right class."
"Students took a diagnostic test at the start of the course to gauge their level."
noun
1
A test or procedure used to identify the cause of a problem.
"The mechanic plugged in a diagnostic to find out why the warning light kept flashing."
"Before calling support, run a diagnostic on your router and note any errors it reports."
"The technician ran a diagnostic on the server before restarting it."
How to use diagnostic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething used to figure out what is wrong — a test, tool, or piece of equipment.
Common pairings
diagnostic test
diagnostic tool
run a diagnostic
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like diagnostic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- diagnostics
- Comparative
- more diagnostic
- Superlative
- most diagnostic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The doctor ordered several _____ tests to find out why he felt so tired.
Etymology
From Greek diagnostikos, related to diagignoskein ("to distinguish, diagnose").
Related words
Rhymes for diagnostic
See all rhymes for diagnostic →Frequently asked questions
What does “diagnostic” mean?
The word “diagnostic” means relating to, or used in, diagnosis. In plain terms, something used to figure out what is wrong — a test, tool, or piece of equipment.
How do you pronounce “diagnostic”?
“Diagnostic” is pronounced deye-uhg-NOS-tihk (/ˌdaɪ.əɡˈnɑ.stɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “diagnostic” in a sentence?
Here is “diagnostic” used in a sentence: “The clinic invested in new diagnostic equipment for scanning patients.”
What part of speech is “diagnostic”?
Depending on how it is used, “diagnostic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “diagnostic” come from?
The word “diagnostic” comes from Greek. From Greek diagnostikos, related to diagignoskein ("to distinguish, diagnose").
Is “diagnostic” a common word?
“Diagnostic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “diagnostic” have?
“Diagnostic” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to, or used in, diagnosis.
What is the difference between diagnostic and diagnosis?
Diagnosis is the noun for the identification of a problem or condition, while diagnostic is the adjective describing something related to or used in diagnosis, such as a diagnostic test. Diagnostic can also be a noun meaning the test or procedure itself.
What is a diagnostic test in education?
In education, a diagnostic test is designed to assess someone's existing knowledge or skill, typically before instruction begins, so that teaching can be targeted to their current level. This differs from a summative test, which measures learning after instruction.
Is diagnostic only used in medicine?
No, diagnostic is used across medicine, mechanics, computing, and education to describe tools or tests that identify the cause of a problem, such as a car's diagnostic system or a diagnostic assessment in a classroom.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include diagnostic:
