misdiagnose

verb

mis·​di·​ag·​nose ˌmis-ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs 

-ˌnōz,

ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs,

-ˈnōz,

-əg-

misdiagnosed; misdiagnosing

transitive verb

: to diagnose (someone or something) incorrectly

… babesiosis is often missed or misdiagnosed as malaria or flu.

—Linda Marsa

The researchers added that children with this disease are often misdiagnosed and thus inappropriately treated …

—Jane E. Brody

Examples of misdiagnose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My view is that the Fed also misdiagnosed how the Covid-19 pandemic would play out. —Nick Sargen, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024

Physicians who are not familiar with the disease may misdiagnose these patients or fail to consider it. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024

There’s been growing awareness of traumatic brain injury in sports, but TBI among victims of domestic violence is often overlooked and misdiagnosed, experts say. —Marina Kopf, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

The Gender Gap in ADHD Diagnosis While ADHD affects people of all genders, women are routinely underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. —Megan Bruneau, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

misdiagnose

transitive verb

mis·​di·​ag·​nose (ˈ)mis-ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs, -ˌnōz 

misdiagnosed; misdiagnosing

: to diagnose incorrectly