Noun

1. The process by which a physician produces a diagnosis that explains a patient's symptoms.
2. The part of this process concerned with determining, from a set of possible candidates, which disease is causing the symptoms.
3. A list of the common causes of a primary symptom.
   • 2000 August 15, Harry D. McKinnon and Thomas Howard, “Evaluating the Febrile Patient with a Rash”, in American Family Physician, American Academy of Family Physicians, page 804,

     The differential diagnosis for febrile patients with a rash is extensive.