Origin: Greek suffix -osis
Diagnosis has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon
"The detective's sharp observation led to a quick diagnosis of the culprit's motive behind the staged crime scene."
The identification of the nature and cause of an illness.
"The doctor spent twenty minutes reviewing my test results before finally delivering a clear diagnosis for my persistent fatigue."
In plain English: Diagnosis is figuring out what is wrong with someone's health by looking at their symptoms and test results.
"The doctor gave me a diagnosis of the flu after checking my temperature."
Usage: Use diagnosis to refer specifically to the medical process of identifying a disease or condition based on symptoms and tests. Do not use it for general guesses or non-medical conclusions about problems.
Synonym of diagnose
"The doctor gave a clear diagnosis that confirmed my initial fears about having the flu."
In plain English: To diagnose means to figure out what is wrong with someone's health by checking their symptoms.
"The doctor will diagnose the patient after reviewing the test results."
Usage: Although "diagnosis" is often used as a noun to describe the identification of a disease, it can function as a verb in medical contexts where it means to identify or determine the nature of an ailment. Use this verbal form interchangeably with "diagnose," though "diagnose" is generally preferred for its clarity and standard usage.
The word diagnosis comes from the Latin diagnōsis, which was borrowed from Ancient Greek. It originally meant "the act of discerning" or "knowing through," describing the process of determining a condition by observation.