diagnosis
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of identifying a disease or illness after a doctor examines you.
the identification of the nature and cause of a medical condition or illness through physical examination and testing.
Simple“The doctor's diagnosis was correct, and the medicine started working within two days.”
In context“Following a series of blood tests and an MRI scan, the specialist confirmed a diagnosis of early-stage arthritis.”
UsageThe plural form is 'diagnoses', pronounced with a long 'e' sound at the end.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
an opinion about the cause of a problem or situation that is not medical.
the identification of the nature and cause of a non-medical phenomenon or problem.
Simple“The consultant gave a clear diagnosis of why the company was losing money.”
In context“The economist's diagnosis of the current market volatility pointed toward a lack of consumer confidence rather than high interest rates.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
a detailed description of a plant or animal that shows how it is different from others.
a formal description of a species or taxon that serves to distinguish it from related organisms.
Simple“The scientist published a new diagnosis of the rare orchid found in the rainforest.”
In context“The original diagnosis of the genus failed to account for the significant morphological variations observed in the recently discovered subspecies.”
UsageHistorically, these descriptions were required to be published in Latin.
Synonyms
Usage psychiatric diagnosis
“Psychiatrists hope the case brings attention to the need for better diagnosis and treatment for the illness.”
“I don’t think my symptoms are serious enough to warrant treatment, but the increase in online discussion about these issues has helped equip many with the language needed to access diagnosis.”
From Latin diagnōsis, from Ancient Greek διάγνωσις (diágnōsis), from διαγιγνώσκω (diagignṓskō, “to discern”), from διά (diá, “through”) + γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō, “to know”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.