self-diagnosedadj.
/ˌsɛlfdʌɪəɡˈnəʊzd/, /ˌsɛlfˈdʌɪəɡnəʊzd/, U.S. /ˌsɛlfˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊzd/, /ˌsɛlfˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊst/, /ˌsɛlfˈdaɪəɡˌnoʊzd/, /ˌsɛlfˈdaɪəɡˌnoʊst/ 1. Designating a medical condition, problem, etc., which one diagnoses or identifies oneself as having, without consulting a medical practitioner.
ΚΠ
1887 Trans. National Eclectic Med. Assoc. 1886–7 14 362 In a self-diagnosed case [of insanity] which the said authors relate, the patient says: ‘I have my reason, but I have not the command of my feelings’.
1933 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 15 July 90/2 Many people injure their gastric mucous membrane by taking drugs—often quite needlessly—for supposed constipation, rheumatism, and other self-diagnosed complaints.
1962 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 3 Feb. 338/2 I expressed my belief that use could be made of the new class of patient who attended with self-diagnosed illnesses.
1992 W. H. Brock Fontana Hist. Chem. iv. 134 Dalton read his first scientific paper, on self-diagnosed colour blindness (long afterwards known as Daltonism) to the Society in 1794.
2006 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 18 Mar. 671/2 He survived an episode of Guillain-Barré syndrome and a self diagnosed aortic aneurysm.
2. Having identified or diagnosed oneself as having a specified illness or condition. Often in extended use.
ΚΠ
1929 Star Valley (Afton, Wyoming) Independent 19 Dec. It is quite another matter for a self-diagnosed 'stout' to apply such a Spartan regimen to himself.
1957 Salina (Kansas) Jrnl. 26 Nov. 6/2 The self-diagnosed leper, who is saving humanity from infection.
1974 PMLA 89 1059/2 The English master punster Thomas Hood, a self-diagnosed consumptive, wisecracked sardonically about himself.
1987 Toronto Star (Nexis) 14 Aug. e3 He's a self-diagnosed workaholic.
2014 Philadelphia Inquirer (Nexis) 13 Feb. (Food section) 1 A self-diagnosed chocoholic.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1887