misdiagnose
verb
mis·di·ag·nose
ˌmis-ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs 
-ˌnōz,
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs,
-ˈnōz,
-əg-
misdiagnosed; misdiagnosing
: to diagnose (someone or something) incorrectly
… babesiosis is often missed or misdiagnosed as malaria or flu.—
Linda Marsa
Linda MarsaThe researchers added that children with this disease are often misdiagnosed and thus inappropriately treated …—Jane E. Brody
Jane E. BrodyExamples of misdiagnose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And there is evidence that some girls and women are misdiagnosed—or missed altogether.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
According to news reports, in 2006 Thomas sued two doctors the White Sox had contracted to treat players, alleging that the physicians had misdiagnosed a fractured bone in his foot as a bruise in 2004 and cleared him to play, which led to another fracture in the same foot in 2005.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The study also reveals that dementia due to CTE is often misdiagnosed during life as Alzheimer’s disease, or not diagnosed at all.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
After additional doctors visits, she was misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a prolapse and endometriosis and was advised to perform pelvic floor exercises.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misdiagnose
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Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
According to news reports, in 2006 Thomas sued two doctors the White Sox had contracted to treat players, alleging that the physicians had misdiagnosed a fractured bone in his foot as a bruise in 2004 and cleared him to play, which led to another fracture in the same foot in 2005.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The study also reveals that dementia due to CTE is often misdiagnosed during life as Alzheimer’s disease, or not diagnosed at all.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
After additional doctors visits, she was misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a prolapse and endometriosis and was advised to perform pelvic floor exercises.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misdiagnose
Cite this Entry
“Misdiagnose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misdiagnose. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
misdiagnose
transitive verb
mis·di·ag·nose
(ˈ)mis-ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs, -ˌnōz
misdiagnosed; misdiagnosing
: to diagnose incorrectly
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