prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs How to pronounce prognosis (audio)
plural prognoses präg-ˈnō-ˌsēz How to pronounce prognosis (audio)
1
: the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case
2

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.

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 Many saw the prince’s recent return to royal duties as a signal that the prognosis in the Wales household was improving quickly. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 The third and smallest of the cubs at only 500 grams was given a grave prognosis from the start due to its small size and severe laceration on its leg. Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 29 Feb. 2024 Complicating her prognosis was an immune-suppressing medication Sherri had been taking for rheumatoid arthritis. Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 While many types of childhood brain cancers have a survival rate of 75 percent, some brain tumors like glioblastoma have a more grim prognosis, with only a 25 percent survival rate. Cathy Free, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024 Prominent is a photo of Honey, who lived for seven years in his care, far exceeding the vet’s prognosis, before dying last year. John Leland, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Many others don’t recognize that their cardiovascular disease symptoms, treatment, and prognosis options are different, and generally less favorable, than their male counterparts’. Eva Epker, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 It has been observed in nursing, but its prognosis is poor, NOAA said. USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 But here’s the thing: Fangraphs also ranks the Reds’ current rotation fifth among all MLB teams, probably because of the strong prognosis for the talented core of that group opening spring training in good health. The Enquirer, 6 Jan. 2024

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prognosis was in 1655

Dictionary Entries Near prognosis

Cite this Entry

“Prognosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prognosis. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prognosis

noun
prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs How to pronounce prognosis (audio)
plural prognoses -ˈnō-ˌsēz How to pronounce prognosis (audio)
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

Medical Definition

prognosis

noun
prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs How to pronounce prognosis (audio)
plural prognoses -ˌsēz How to pronounce prognosis (audio)
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 diseaseP. A. Mead et al.

More from Merriam-Webster on prognosis

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