misdiagnosis

noun

mis·​di·​ag·​no·​sis ˌmis-ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs 

-əg-

plural misdiagnoses ˌmis-ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-ˌsēz 

-əg-

: an incorrect diagnosis

Misdiagnosis can easily occur unless the veterinarian is alert to the possibility of Lyme disease.

—Suzanne Clothier et al.

The court also stated that experts can be sued for negligence resulting from their misdiagnoses.

—Mark Hansen

Examples of misdiagnosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Portnoy recalls traveling with her husband to four different medical institutions after a year of misdiagnosis. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025

The higher rate of misdiagnosis in women is more likely the result of how women tend to describe their symptoms or get interpreted by health care providers. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 June 2025

Facilities should track and publicly report their stroke misdiagnosis rates. —Sean C. Domnick, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025

In specialized memory clinics, this misdiagnosis rate drops to 25-30%. —Mill Etienne, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misdiagnosis

• amyloidosis
• anaplasmosis
• anastomosis
• aponeurosis
• apotheosis
• aspergillosis
• blastomycosis
• coccidiosis
• cryptococcosis
• cysticercosis
• endocytosis
• exocytosis

Medical Definition

misdiagnosis

noun

mis·​di·​ag·​no·​sis (ˌ)mis-ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-səs 

plural misdiagnoses -ˌsēz 

: an incorrect diagnosis