prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses präg-ˈnō-ˌsēz 

1

: the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case

2

: forecast, prognostication

Did you know?

Prognosis Is Not Just a Medical Term

With its prefix pro-, meaning "before", prognosis means basically "knowledge beforehand" of how a situation is likely to turn out. Prognosis was originally a strictly medical term, but it soon broadened to include predictions made by experts of all kinds. Thus, for example, economists are constantly offering prognoses (notice the irregular plural form) about where the economy is going, and climate scientists regularly prognosticate about how quickly the earth's atmosphere is warming.

Synonyms

• auguring
• augury
• bodement
• cast
• forecast
• forecasting
• foretelling
• predicting
• prediction
• presaging
• prognostic
• prognosticating
• prognostication
• prophecy
• prophesy
• soothsaying
• vaticination

Examples of prognosis in a Sentence

Right now, doctors say his prognosis is good.

The president had a hopeful prognosis about the company's future.

Recent Examples on the Web

Katie: my fury was boundless in that moment that first of all, the doctor could be so cavalier with just his prognosis. —Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024

Directing high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation directly at a tumor or tumors on the liver to destroy cancer cells Prognosis and Life Expectancy The prognosis and life expectancy for liver disease depend on the type and severity of the disease. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 Oct. 2024

Breast Cancer Has an ‘Outstanding’ Survival Rate The earlier the stage, the better the prognosis, and the higher the survival rate, Bleicher says. —Lisa Rapaport, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Oct. 2024

This article explains how catecholamines function, what high or low levels may indicate, ways a healthcare provider may test your catecholamine levels, and prognosis. —Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek prognōsis, literally, foreknowledge, from progignōskein to know before, from pro- + gignōskein to know — more at know

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses -ˈnō-ˌsēz 

1

: the prospect of recovery of an individual who has a disease based on the usual course of the disease and the characteristics of the individual who is sick

2

: forecast entry 2

Medical Definition

prognosis

noun

prog·​no·​sis präg-ˈnō-səs 

plural prognoses -ˌsēz 

1

: the act or art of foretelling the course of a disease

2

: the prospect of survival and recovery from a disease as anticipated from the usual course of that disease or indicated by special features of the case

the prognosis is poor because of the accompanying cardiovascular disease

—P. A. Mead et al.