ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prognosis

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //pɹɑɡˈnoʊsəs// UK //pɹɒɡnˈəʊsɪs// prog·no·sis

n. a doctor's opinion about how a sick person will recover. It can also mean a guess about how a situation will develop in the future.

n. a prediction of the likely course and outcome of a disease or situation. Often based on medical data or historical trends.


SIMPLE

The doctor gave her a positive prognosis.

CONTEXTUAL

After the surgery, the medical team provided a favorable prognosis for a full recovery within six months.

COMPLEX

While the immediate economic indicators are troubling, the long-term prognosis for the industry remains optimistic due to recent technological breakthroughs and increased consumer demand.

Synonyms
Origin

Learned borrowing from Late Latin prognōsis (“forecast, prediction; forecast of the course and outcome of a disease”), itself borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόγνωσις (prógnōsis, “forecast of the course and outcome of a disease; (Koine) foreknowledge, perceiving beforehand, prediction”), from προ- (pro-, prefix meaning ‘before; beforehand’) + γνῶσῐς (gnôsĭs, “inquiry, investigation; knowledge”). The plural prognoses is a learned borrowing from Late Latin prognōsēs. Cognates * Middle French prognosie (“forecast, prediction”) (modern French prognosie (obsolete), prognose (“forecast of the course and outcome of a disease”)) * Sanskrit प्रज्ञा (prajñā, “intelligence, wisdom; judgment; knowledge”)

Usage

Often takes the preposition 'for' when referring to the subject of the prediction.

Pitfall

the prognosis of the patientthe prognosis for the patientIn a medical context, 'prognosis' typically takes the preposition 'for' to indicate the person or condition being discussed.

© 2026 English Reference