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
Students would begin by first drafting their own differential diagnosis.
—
Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
The differential diagnosis includes bacterial folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles caused by Staphylococcus aureus.71
Milder cases of tinea barbae appear similar to the following diseases that cause comparable symptoms.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024
Later that night, they were told that their MRI was canceled as doctors would be doing a differential diagnosis instead.
—Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2023
More often, though, differential diagnosis is a long, sometimes discouraging, process that involves interrogating multiple explanations for each symptom.
—WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022
Supernumerary nipple should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a vulvar mass.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017
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Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
The differential diagnosis includes bacterial folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles caused by Staphylococcus aureus.71
Milder cases of tinea barbae appear similar to the following diseases that cause comparable symptoms.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024
Later that night, they were told that their MRI was canceled as doctors would be doing a differential diagnosis instead.
—Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2023
More often, though, differential diagnosis is a long, sometimes discouraging, process that involves interrogating multiple explanations for each symptom.
—WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022
Supernumerary nipple should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a vulvar mass.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017
Cite this Entry
“Differential diagnosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/differential%20diagnosis. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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