A prognosis is a prediction about how something will turn out, especially about recovery from an illness or injury. When a doctor examines a patient, they make a diagnosis (figuring out what's wrong) and then often give a prognosis (predicting what will happen next). A doctor might say, “The prognosis is good,” meaning the patient will likely recover fully, or “The prognosis is uncertain,” meaning they're not sure how things will go.

The word comes from medicine but works in other situations too. A coach might give a prognosis about whether the team will make the playoffs based on their current performance. A teacher might offer a prognosis about whether a struggling student will catch up if they get extra help.

A prognosis is an informed prediction based on knowledge and experience. When a veterinarian gives you a prognosis for your sick pet, they're drawing on years of training and cases they've seen before. The prognosis might be favorable (good outcomes expected), poor (serious problems likely), or guarded (too uncertain to say). Understanding a prognosis helps people prepare for what's ahead and make good decisions about treatment or next steps.