noun
Uncommon
prognosis
prog-NOH-sihs
Prognosis (noun) means a prediction of how a disease or medical condition is likely to develop. Example: “The doctor gave a cautiously optimistic prognosis after surgery.”
noun
1
A prediction of how a disease or medical condition is likely to develop.
"The doctor gave a cautiously optimistic prognosis after surgery."
2
A forecast of how any situation is likely to develop, not just medical.
"Economists offered a grim prognosis for the housing market."
How to use prognosis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA forecast or expected outcome, most often used for medical conditions.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "diagnosis" — a diagnosis identifies what's wrong now; a prognosis predicts what happens next.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a good prognosis
a poor prognosis
long-term prognosis
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Word forms
- Plural
- prognoses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The doctor gave a cautiously optimistic _____ after surgery.
Etymology
From Greek prognosis, "foreknowledge," from pro- ("before") plus gnosis ("knowledge").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for prognosis
meiosis
mitosis
osmosis
stenosis
acidosis
zoonosis
cyanosis
necrosis
neurosis
hypnosis
fibrosis
silicosis
See all rhymes for prognosis →
Frequently asked questions
What does “prognosis” mean?
The word “prognosis” means a prediction of how a disease or medical condition is likely to develop. In plain terms, a forecast or expected outcome, most often used for medical conditions.
How do you pronounce “prognosis”?
“Prognosis” is pronounced prog-NOH-sihs (/pɹɑɡˈnoʊsɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “prognosis” in a sentence?
Here is “prognosis” used in a sentence: “The doctor gave a cautiously optimistic prognosis after surgery.”
What part of speech is “prognosis”?
“Prognosis” is a noun.
Where does the word “prognosis” come from?
The word “prognosis” comes from Greek. From Greek prognosis, "foreknowledge," from pro- ("before") plus gnosis ("knowledge").
Is “prognosis” a common word?
“Prognosis” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “prognosis” have?
“Prognosis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a prediction of how a disease or medical condition is likely to develop.
