# diagnosis

/ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsəs/ (US) · /dˌaɪəɡnˈəʊsɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/diagnosis
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. medical identification

noun · CEFR B2

the act of identifying a disease or illness after a doctor examines you.

For teachers: the identification of the nature and cause of a medical condition or illness through physical examination and testing.

- The doctor's diagnosis was correct, and the medicine started working within two days.
- Following a series of blood tests and an MRI scan, the specialist confirmed a diagnosis of early-stage arthritis.

Usage: The plural form is 'diagnoses', pronounced with a long 'e' sound at the end.

### 2. general analysis

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an opinion about the cause of a problem or situation that is not medical.

For teachers: the identification of the nature and cause of a non-medical phenomenon or problem.

- The consultant gave a clear diagnosis of why the company was losing money.
- The economist's diagnosis of the current market volatility pointed toward a lack of consumer confidence rather than high interest rates.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 3. biological description

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

a detailed description of a plant or animal that shows how it is different from others.

For teachers: a formal description of a species or taxon that serves to distinguish it from related organisms.

- The scientist published a new diagnosis of the rare orchid found in the rainforest.
- The original diagnosis of the genus failed to account for the significant morphological variations observed in the recently discovered subspecies.

Usage: Historically, these descriptions were required to be published in Latin.

## Examples

- The doctor gave her a diagnosis of asthma.
- After several blood tests and an X-ray, the medical team finally reached a definitive diagnosis.
- Early diagnosis is crucial for improving patient outcomes, as many chronic conditions respond more effectively to treatment when caught in their initial stages.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.