prognosis
prog-NOH-sis
/prɒɡˈnəʊ.sɪs/
A forecast of the likely course and outcome of a disease or situation.
Look forward into the future progression of a disease, whereas diagnosis looks backward/presently at symptoms.
The story behind the word. In ancient medicine, Hippocratic doctors emphasized 'prognōsis'—knowing beforehand. Predicting whether a fever would break on a specific day established a doctor's skill and trustworthiness.
Word relationships
- forecast: General word for predicting future events or weather.
- outlook: Slightly less formal clinical expectation of future progress.
- retrospect: A review or survey of past events.
Commonly confused with
- diagnosis: Diagnosis names the current disease, while prognosis predicts its future course.
Word family
- prognosticate (verb): To foretell or prophesy a future outcome.
- prognostic (adjective): Serving to predict the likely course of a medical condition.
Collocations
- favorable prognosis
- poor prognosis
- guarded prognosis
- long-term prognosis
Example sentences
- "With early therapeutic intervention, the patient's prognosis improved dramatically." Clinical Practice
- "The doctor offered a guarded prognosis, noting that treatment responses varied widely." Oncology Context
Memory hook
PRO (before) + GNOSIS (knowledge). Knowing BEFORE it happens. Knowing the course beforehand.
When not to use
Do not use to describe the current identification of a disease.
Fun facts
- In ancient Greece, prognosis was considered even more vital than diagnosis because precise remedies were few, so accurate forecasting was paramount.
Explore more words
diagnosis, forecast, predict, prophylactic, prophecy, diagnostic
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