case history: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “case history” mean?
A detailed record of a person's background and history, especially as compiled by a professional (like a doctor, social worker, or psychologist).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A detailed record of a person's background and history, especially as compiled by a professional (like a doctor, social worker, or psychologist).
A detailed chronological account of the development or circumstances of an event, situation, institution, or object, used for analysis.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally standard in both medical and general professional contexts.
Connotations
Strongly associated with medical, psychological, social work, and legal professions. Slightly clinical or bureaucratic connotation.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties within technical registers.
Grammar
How to Use “case history” in a Sentence
The doctor reviewed the patient's [case history].They compiled a [case history] of the building.The decision was based on a full [case history].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “case history” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The GP will case-history any new patient.
- The social worker spent the afternoon case-historying the family.
American English
- The physician will case-history each new referral.
- The team is case-historying the project's failures.
adverb
British English
- He documented everything case-historically.
- The report was written case-historically.
American English
- The analysis proceeded case-historically.
- She thinks case-historically about problems.
adjective
British English
- The case-history data was invaluable.
- She presented a case-history review.
American English
- The case-history information was confidential.
- We need a case-history approach.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when analyzing a company's past failures or successes for a strategy review. (e.g., 'We developed a case history of our major client acquisitions.')
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, and medicine for detailed studies of a single subject. (e.g., 'The paper presented a case history of language acquisition.')
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously to discuss one's own past troubles. (e.g., 'Don't ask about my dating case history!')
Technical
Standard term in healthcare for the compiled background of a patient, including illnesses, treatments, and social factors.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “case history”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “case history”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “case history”
- Using it as a synonym for just 'story' or 'example' without the implication of a compiled professional record. (Incorrect: 'Let me tell you a funny case history about my holiday.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compound noun, always written as two separate words: 'case history'.
Yes, it can be extended metaphorically to organisations, projects, or objects (e.g., 'a case history of the company's decline').
A 'case history' is the raw record of background data. A 'case study' is an analysis or presentation, often for teaching, based on that history.
Grammatically yes, but it's not idiomatic. The standard fixed phrase is 'case histories' for the plural.
A detailed record of a person's background and history, especially as compiled by a professional (like a doctor, social worker, or psychologist).
Case history is usually formal, technical in register.
Case history: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkeɪs ˌhɪs.tər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkeɪs ˌhɪs.tɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a classic case history of corporate failure.”
- “The patient's case history reads like a medical textbook.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a detective's CASE file. The HISTORY inside that file is the 'case history'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON/THING IS A DOCUMENT (to be read and analysed).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'case history' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?