differential diagnosis

noun

: the distinguishing of a disease or condition from others presenting with similar signs and symptoms

Examples of differential diagnosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Instead, after a patient provides a medical history and undergoes a physical exam, MRIs are deployed to confirm or rule out diseases or conditions as part of a proper differential diagnosis. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 For a meaningful share of cognitive work in primary care, like reviewing records, taking histories, generating differential diagnoses, managing chronic disease, autonomous AI can already deliver clinically adequate care. Alon Bergman, STAT, 11 May 2026 Prior generations of large language models faltered when dealing with uncertainty, and in generating a list of possible conditions to check up, what's known as a differential diagnosis. Will Stone, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of differential diagnosis was in 1829

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Cite this Entry

“Differential diagnosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/differential%20diagnosis. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

differential diagnosis

noun
: the distinguishing of a disease or condition from others presenting similar symptoms

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