GC: n
S: BMJ (last access: 7 December 2025); CC (last access: 7 December 2025).
N: 1. 1650s, «forecast of the probable course and termination of a case of a disease,» from Late Latin prognosis, from Greek prognōsis «foreknowledge,» also, in medicine, «predicted course of a disease,» from stem of progignōskein «come to know beforehand,» from pro- «before» (see pro-) + gignōskein «come to know» (from PIE root *gno- «to know»).
An earlier form in the same sense was pronostike (early 15c.), from Medieval Latin pronosticum. The general (non-medical) sense of «a forecast of the course of events» in English is from 1706. A back-formed verb prognose is attested from 1837; the earlier verb was Middle English pronostiken (c. 1400), from Medieval Latin pronosticare.
The earliest known use of the noun prognosis is in the mid 1600s. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) earliest evidence for prognosis is from 1649, in the writing of J. Harrison.
2. a forescast as to the probable outcome of an attack of disease; the prospect as to recovery from a disease as indicated by the nature and symptoms of the case.
3. Prognosis refers to the forecasted outcome of a patient’s condition following a diagnosis, applicable across various diseases, chronic conditions, injuries, and medical emergencies. It can be conveyed through various means, including descriptive terms, numerical scales, charts, and percentages, indicating the likelihood of recovery or survival.
- A prognosis is typically categorized as favorable or poor, with additional descriptors such as excellent, fair, or bleak reflecting the expected outcome. Factors influencing prognosis include the type of illness, patient health history, lifestyle habits (such as diet, exercise, and substance use), age, and socio-economic status.
- Early detection and intervention significantly enhance the chances of a favorable prognosis, making regular check-ups and awareness of health conditions crucial. Patient education plays an essential role in improving long-term prognoses, as understanding one’s health condition can lead to better management and treatment adherence. Treatment plans can also affect prognosis, as various therapies may be employed to enhance recovery chances. Overall, prognosis serves as a vital guide for patients and healthcare providers in navigating treatment decisions and expected health outcomes.
4. When navigating a health condition – whether physical or mental – understanding the difference between diagnosis and prognosis is key. These two terms are closely connected, but they serve very different purposes in the medical assessment process.
5. Symptoms (Medicine); Law of Evidence: prognosis.
- An assessment of the future course and outcome of a disease.
- prognosis: term and definition standardized by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Glossary English Editorial Board and the Translation Bureau (Canada).
Meteorological Forecasting, Data Measurement and Analysis: prognosis.
- Forecaster’s judgement, based on an analysis or a numerical forecast, of the future development of a weather situation.
Organization Planning: projection.
- An estimate of future events or conditions based on the present position and recent trends.
- French equivalent in this field: pronostic.
6. Collocations with «prognosis»:
- bleak prognosis, grim prognosis, initial prognosis, optimistic prognosis, poor prognosis.
7. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy (2005-), the TV Series created by Shonda Rhimes features the lives of medical professionals, their interactions with patients, the prognosis they have to inform to patients and their relatives, and the challenges they face in the medical field.
S: 1. Etymonline (last access: 7 December 2025); OED (last access: 7 December 2025). 2. DOIMD p. 1515 (7 December 2025). 3. EBSCO (7 December 2025). 4. TREATMH (7 December 2025). 5. TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 11 December 2025). 6. CED (last access 11 December 2025). 7. IMDb (last access: 7 December 2025).
SYN:
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CR: diagnosis, disease, disorder, physician, health, medical treatment, medicine, mental health, patient, symptom, therapy.