diagnostic

1 of 2

adjective

di·​ag·​nos·​tic ˌdī-ig-ˈnä-stik How to pronounce diagnostic (audio)
-əg-
variants or less commonly diagnostical
1
a
: of, relating to, or used in diagnosis
a diagnostic tool
b
: using the methods of or yielding a diagnosis
diagnostic tests
2
: serving to distinguish or identify
a diagnostic feature
diagnostically adverb

diagnostic

2 of 2

noun

1
: the art or practice of diagnosis
often used in plural
2
: a distinguishing mark
diagnostician noun

Examples of diagnostic in a Sentence

Adjective Ultrasound is now widely used as a diagnostic tool. One important diagnostic feature of this condition is a mild rash. Noun the thesis that moral decline is the infallible diagnostic of a decadent society
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
At the hospital, a health care provider might use diagnostic tests to determine if your water has broken, such as the following: Introducing a small piece of paper, called litmus paper, during a vaginal exam. Nicole Harris, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 The disease is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, which was well-described and identifiable with diagnostic tests by the 1890s. Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 One 2023 study found that diagnostic error, one kind of medical error, accounted for 371,000 deaths and 424,000 permanent disabilities among Americans every year. Johanna Richlin, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2024 Boundless Bio has a pipeline of three cancer drugs in the works, a diagnostic test to identify patients for its drug and a proprietary platform to investigate other potential cancer DNA targets. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 Using clinical samples obtained from diagnostic labs throughout the U.S. from 2020 to 2023, the National Institutes of Health, through its Variant Task Force, analyzed the effectiveness of more than 100 rapid antigen test kits on over 300 variants. Anuradha Rao, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024 The Holy See said the short visit was for diagnostic tests and is back at the Vatican. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2024 Then, learners can practice interacting with virtual patients and conducting basic dementia tests, enhancing their diagnostic skills. Sergei Vardomatski, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The theory is not accepted as a mental health disorder by psychiatry's diagnostic bodies. Hannah Dreyfus, The Arizona Republic, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
By offloading things like preliminary diagnostics, data analysis and administrivia to AI, medical professionals can use that time to more finely hone diagnoses and create deeper connections and empathy with their patients. David Rothschild, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Timothy Stenzel, the federal regulator who led the Food and Drug Administration’s diagnostics division during the chaotic time of Covid-19 pandemic, has left the agency. Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 18 Jan. 2024 It’s not meant to replace a human doctor, since the pod is for diagnostics rather than treatment. Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023 Apple also just launched a diagnostics tool users can access online. Emma Roth, The Verge, 14 Dec. 2023 And The Early Detection Of Diseases AI has been making a mark in diagnostics for a while, but generative AI will significantly enhance the analysis of medical images. Bernard Marr, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 These dismissive views have held back ME/CFS research, and scientists have made little progress toward developing diagnostics and therapies and understanding the mechanism behind the condition. Kamal Nahas, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2024 Modern onboard diagnostics, or OBD-II, became a standardized and mandatory part of every automobile sold in the United States, starting with the 1996 model year. Robin Warner, Ars Technica, 4 Dec. 2023 These findings set the stage for developing new diagnostics for long Covid, and perhaps could inspire new therapeutic targets. Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 19 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diagnostic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diagnostic was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near diagnostic

Cite this Entry

“Diagnostic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagnostic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

diagnostic

adjective
di·​ag·​nos·​tic
ˌdī-ig-ˈnäs-tik
: of, relating to, or used in diagnosis
a diagnostic test for heart disease

Medical Definition

diagnostic

1 of 2 adjective
di·​ag·​nos·​tic -ˈnäs-tik How to pronounce diagnostic (audio)
variants also diagnostical
1
: of, relating to, or used in diagnosis
2
: using the methods of or yielding a diagnosis
a diagnostic service
diagnostic properties
diagnostically adverb

diagnostic

2 of 2 noun
: the art or practice of diagnosis
often used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on diagnostic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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