adjective / noun
diagnostic
dye-ug-NAHS-tik/ˌdaɪəɡˈnɑːstɪk/
Aiding recognition of what something is or what is wrong.
The mechanic runs a diagnostic to find the engine problem.
Etymology
Knowing apart underlies the Greek sense “able to distinguish.” Something diagnostic helps distinguish one illness or problem from another, making its identifying value central to the word.
In context
a person could go and have a colonoscopy and that can identify polyps colorectal cancer they could have a biopsy done that could identify microscopic colitis so that's a valid diagnostic tool
More examples
- The doctor orders a diagnostic test to explain the swelling.
- These wing markings are diagnostic of the species.
- The technician runs diagnostics on the faulty computer.
Forms
diagnostic · diagnostics
diagnose verb — To identify a condition or its cause.
diagnosis noun — Identification of a condition or its cause.
Similar words
- indicative
- Indicative suggests something is present without necessarily identifying it precisely.
- test
- A test can measure performance without identifying a specific problem.