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

For many women, Blair’s experience is all too familiar—persistent symptoms dismissed, misdiagnosed or attributed to something else entirely. —Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2025

This difference in presentation helps explain why ADHD in women is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. —Megan Bruneau, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

There are millions of adults with autism now, and always were — most were misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and institutionalized during Kennedy’s childhood. —S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2025

While the intention to protect consumers is admirable, such proposals risk misdiagnosing the real problem. —Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misdiagnose

• arabinose
• arpeggios
• chlorpyrifos
• manifestoes
• manifestos
• pistachios
• politicos
• portfolios
• superimpose
• agarose
• aliquots
• amigos

Medical Definition

misdiagnose

transitive verb

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

misdiagnosed; misdiagnosing

: to diagnose incorrectly