diagnosis
noun
di·ag·no·sis
ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs 
-əg-
plural diagnoses
ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-ˌsēz
-əg-
1
a
: the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms
b
: the decision reached by diagnosis
the doctor's diagnosis
2
a
: investigation or analysis of the cause or nature of a condition, situation, or problem
diagnosis of engine trouble
b
: a statement or conclusion from such an analysis
3
biology
: a concise technical description of a taxon
Examples of diagnosis in a Sentence
The unusual combination of symptoms made accurate diagnosis difficult.
She is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.
The diagnosis was a mild concussion.
His doctor made an initial diagnosis of pneumonia.
The committee published its diagnosis of the problems affecting urban schools.
Recent Examples on the Web
The actress died from bone cancer in 2018 at the age of 92, a little over a year after revealing her diagnosis in April 2017.
—
Michele Corriston, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
The most common diagnoses included disorders in speech and motor function development and autism.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Current Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 council member Carlos Flores, who served with Bivens from June 2017 to her retirement in May 2025, expressed sadness at her diagnosis.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
Having watched my first husband struggle through a brutal, but thankfully relatively quick, death from esophageal cancer 20 years ago, my diagnosis of Stage 2 breast cancer at the end of 2023 reinvigorated my desire to reprioritize living life to the fullest.
—Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diagnosis
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Michele Corriston, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
The most common diagnoses included disorders in speech and motor function development and autism.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Current Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 council member Carlos Flores, who served with Bivens from June 2017 to her retirement in May 2025, expressed sadness at her diagnosis.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
Having watched my first husband struggle through a brutal, but thankfully relatively quick, death from esophageal cancer 20 years ago, my diagnosis of Stage 2 breast cancer at the end of 2023 reinvigorated my desire to reprioritize living life to the fullest.
—Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diagnosis
Cite this Entry
“Diagnosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagnosis. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diagnosis
noun
di·ag·no·sis
ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs
plural diagnoses
-ˈnō-ˌsēz
1
a
: the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms
b
: the decision reached by diagnosis
2
a
: a careful study of something especially to determine its nature or importance
b
: the conclusion reached after a study or examination
Medical Definition
diagnosis
noun
di·ag·no·sis
ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs, -əg-
plural diagnoses
-ˌsēz
1
a
: the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms
b
: the decision reached by diagnosis
a diagnosis of pneumonia
2
: a concise technical description of a taxon
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