noun pl. diagnoses -·ses′ (-sēz′)

1. the act or process of discovering or identifying a diseased condition by means of a medical examination, laboratory test, etc.
2. a careful examination and analysis of the facts in an attempt to understand or explain something a diagnosis of the economy
3. a decision or opinion based on such examination
4. Biol. a short scientific description for taxonomic classification

Etymology: ModL < Gr diagnōsis, a distinguishing < diagignōskein, to distinguish: see dia- & -gnosis