WordValeprognosis
the likely course and outcome of a disease
In more detail
1. (noun) a doctor's opinion about how an illness will develop and whether someone will recover
2. (noun) a prediction about how something will develop in the future
Examples
- 1. The patient received a positive prognosis from her doctor, suggesting she would make a full recovery.
- 2. Economic experts gave a grim prognosis for the country's future.
How to use prognosis
Prognosis is used formally in medical contexts to describe a doctor's informed judgment about disease progression and recovery prospects, but it also extends to general predictions about future development in business, economics, or social trends. It carries an air of professional expertise and is often used when the outlook is uncertain or requires careful evaluation. It differs from diagnosis, which identifies a condition rather than predicting its course.
Common phrases
- good prognosis
- poor prognosis
- prognosis is uncertain
- medical prognosis
- long-term prognosis
Synonyms
forecast · outlook · prediction · assessment · projection
Word family
prognostic (adjective) · prognosticate (verb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse prognosis with diagnosis, or use prognosis when they mean simple prediction without the implied element of expert judgment.
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