diagnostic

1 of 2

adjective

di·​ag·​nos·​tic ˌdī-ig-ˈnä-stik 

-əg-

variants or less commonly diagnostical

ˌdī-ig-ˈnä-sti-kəl 

-əg-

1

a

: of, relating to, or used in diagnosis

a diagnostic tool

b

: using the methods of or yielding a diagnosis

diagnostic tests

2

: serving to distinguish or identify

a diagnostic feature

diagnostically

ˌdī-ig-ˈnä-sti-k(ə-)lē 

-əg-

adverb

diagnostic

2 of 2

noun

1

: the art or practice of diagnosis

—often used in plural

2

: a distinguishing mark

diagnostician

ˌdī-ig-(ˌ)nä-ˈsti-shən 

-əg-

noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• characteristic
• classic
• discriminating
• distinct
• distinctive
• distinguishing
• identifying
• individual
• peculiar
• proper
• symptomatic
• typical

Noun

• affection
• attribute
• attribution
• character
• characteristic
• criterion
• differentia
• feature
• fingerprint
• hallmark
• mark
• marker
• note
• particularity
• peculiarity
• point
• property
• quality
• specific
• stamp
• touch
• trait

Examples of diagnostic in a Sentence

Adjective

Ultrasound is now widely used as a diagnostic tool.

One important diagnostic feature of this condition is a mild rash.

Noun

the thesis that moral decline is the infallible diagnostic of a decadent society

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While this is often a diagnostic test, a sigmoidoscopy can also help relieve the twist in some cases. —Sarah Jividen, Health, 22 Sep. 2024

Shortages of diagnostic test kits and medicines, among other challenges, further complicate matters. —Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024

Noun

The lack of new antibiotics, diagnostics, and therapeutics enhances the increasing danger of antibiotic resistance. —Steve Brozak, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

Maduro even accepted an electoral observation mission by the European Union that resulted in the most comprehensive diagnostic of the country’s flawed electoral system. —Jose Ignacio Hernández, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

diagnostic

adjective

di·​ag·​nos·​tic

ˌdī-ig-ˈnäs-tik

: of, relating to, or used in diagnosis

a diagnostic test for heart disease

Medical Definition

diagnostic

1 of 2 adjective

di·​ag·​nos·​tic -ˈnäs-tik 

variants also diagnostical

-ti-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or used in diagnosis

2

: using the methods of or yielding a diagnosis

a diagnostic service

diagnostic properties

diagnostically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

diagnostic

2 of 2 noun

: the art or practice of diagnosis

—often used in plural