Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or used in diagnosis: Concerned with identifying the nature or cause of something, especially a disease or problem.
   • Characteristic or indicative of a particular condition: Serving as a sign or symptom that helps to identify a specific situation, issue, or disease.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The doctor ordered a series of diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the patient's pain.
  • A persistent cough can be a diagnostic sign of several respiratory conditions.
  • The mechanic used diagnostic software to identify the fault in the car's engine.

Advanced Usage

• "Diagnostic of": Used to indicate that something is a characteristic sign of a specific condition.
  • This pattern of behavior is diagnostic of anxiety disorders.
• "Diagnostic tool": An instrument, test, or method used to identify problems or diseases.
  • The MRI scanner is a powerful diagnostic tool in modern medicine.

Variants and Related Words

• Diagnose (verb): To identify the nature of an illness or problem by examination.
  • The physician was able to diagnose the infection quickly.
• Diagnosis (noun): The identification of the nature of an illness or problem.
  • The final diagnosis was a rare genetic disorder.
• Diagnostician (noun): A person, especially a doctor, skilled in making diagnoses.
  • She is a renowned diagnostician in the field of neurology.

Synonyms

• Symptomatic: Serving as a symptom or sign.
• Characteristic: Typical of a particular person, place, or thing.
• Indicative: Serving as a sign or indication.

Related Phrases

• Diagnostic criteria: The specific signs, symptoms, and tests used to classify a condition.
  • The patient met all the diagnostic criteria for diabetes.
• Diagnostic procedure: A specific method or series of steps followed to reach a diagnosis.
  • The biopsy is a common diagnostic procedure for cancer.

Adjective

1. characteristic or indicative of a disease
   • a diagnostic sign of yellow fever
   • a rash symptomatic of scarlet fever
   • symptomatic of insanity
   • a rise in crime symptomatic of social breakdown
2. concerned with diagnosis; used for furthering diagnosis
   • a diagnostic reading test