proband

noun

pro·​band ˈprō-ˌband How to pronounce proband (audio)
prō-ˈband
: an individual affected with a disorder who is the first subject in a study (as of a genetic character in a family lineage)

Word History

Etymology

Latin probandus, gerundive of probare

First Known Use

circa 1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of proband was circa 1929

Rhymes for proband

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Browse Nearby Words

probably
proband
probasidium
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Cite this Entry

“Proband.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proband. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

proband

noun
pro·​band ˈprō-ˌband How to pronounce proband (audio)
: an individual affected with a disorder who is the first subject in a study (as of a genetic character in a family lineage)

called also propositus

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