Diagnosis vs Prognosis: What’s the Difference?
The difference at a glance
A diagnosis identifies a specific condition or disease based on current symptoms. A prognosis is the predicted course or outcome of that condition as it develops over time.
Example sentences are illustrative learning examples, not verified quotations.
What does Diagnosis mean?
noun · /ˌdaɪ.əɡˈnoʊ.sɪs/
The process of identifying a disease, injury, or condition by examining symptoms, test results, and patient history. A diagnosis gives a name to what is happening in the body — which is simultaneously a comfort (knowledge) and a weight (label).
Explore DiagnosisDiagnosis in a sentence
The diagnosis came after four years of being told there was nothing wrong — finding the name felt like being given permission to be ill.
A differential diagnosis lists multiple possible conditions before evidence eliminates them one by one.
What does Prognosis mean?
noun · /prɒɡˈnəʊsɪs/
A forecast of the likely course and outcome of a disease — based on the current state of the patient and known patterns of how the disease develops; more broadly, a forecast of any situation's likely development.
Explore PrognosisPrognosis in a sentence
The prognosis was cautiously optimistic — full recovery was likely with treatment.
She asked for the honest prognosis and received it with the steadiness she had always promised herself she would have.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Diagnosis and Prognosis?
A diagnosis identifies a specific condition or disease based on current symptoms. A prognosis is the predicted course or outcome of that condition as it develops over time.
What does Diagnosis mean?
The process of identifying a disease, injury, or condition by examining symptoms, test results, and patient history. A diagnosis gives a name to what is happening in the body — which is simultaneously a comfort (knowledge) and a weight (label).
What does Prognosis mean?
A forecast of the likely course and outcome of a disease — based on the current state of the patient and known patterns of how the disease develops; more broadly, a forecast of any situation's likely development.