prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses präg-ˈnō-ˌsēz 

1

: the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case

2

: forecast, prognostication

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.

Synonyms of prognosis

• prediction
• forecast
• forecasting
• predicting
• prophecy

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

The disease has a poor prognosis. —Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 4 Dec. 2025

That’s where doctors found a cyst the size of an egg a few weeks before Halloween, when an unexpected trip to the emergency room turned into a life-threatening prognosis, forcing the now-three-time cancer patient into quarantine during her favorite holiday’s festivities. —Katie Lauer, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025

Chapman, who was affectionately known as Syd and served in the Royal Irish Rangers and ran a cleaning business, died in August 2022, eight months after accidentally discovering his prognosis, per the release. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025

Bondi said the suspect’s charges will be based on the victims’ prognosis, adding that the guardsmen volunteered to work on Thanksgiving so others could enjoy the holiday. —Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 27 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for prognosis

• cirrhosis
• fibrosis
• gliosis
• hypnosis
• ichthyosis
• ketosis
• kurtosis
• lordosis
• meiosis
• miosis
• mitosis
• mycosis

Kids Definition

prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses -ˈnō-ˌsēz 

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

: forecast entry 2

Medical Definition

prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses -ˌsēz 

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 disease

—P. A. Mead et al.