prediction
Americannoun
-
an act of predicting.
-
an instance of this; prophecy.
- Synonyms:
- projection, divination, prognostication, augury, forecast
noun
-
the act of predicting
-
something predicted; a forecast, prophecy, etc
Usage
What does prediction mean? A prediction is a statement about what someone thinks will happen in the future. People make predictions all the time. Some are very serious and are based on scientific calculations, but many are just guesses. Example: Here’s a prediction: in 20 years, we’ll all drive less and eat a lot less meat.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of prediction
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin praedictiōn-, stem of praedictiō “prophecy”; equivalent to predict + -ion
Explanation
I have a prediction: You’ll know what this word means by the time you finish reading this explanation. A prediction is what someone thinks will happen. A prediction is a forecast, but not only about the weather. Pre means “before” and diction has to do with talking. So a prediction is a statement about the future. It’s a guess, sometimes based on facts or evidence, but not always. A fortune teller makes a prediction using a crystal ball. A meteorologist uses maps and scientific data to tell us about the possibility of rain, snow or sunshine. And when I made the prediction that you would understand what this word meant, it was based on instinct, a gut feeling telling me what would happen next.
Vocabulary lists containing prediction
You Can Say That Again: Dic and Dict
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The Scientific Method
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List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The platform purports to be the first prediction market of its kind, pricing county and city wildfire risk in real time.
From Slate • Jun. 30, 2026
All in, Robinhood is on pace for its best trading month ever in June for equities, options and prediction markets, making for a “hat trick, unassisted by crypto,” they say.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
Strategists led by Martijn Rats, in a note published late Monday, cut their fourth-quarter Brent oil forecast to $75 from $80 and their end of 2027 prediction to $70 from $80.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
The findings suggest that important cognitive abilities, including language comprehension and prediction, may not depend on conscious awareness.
From Science Daily • Jun. 29, 2026
Only a day had been required to get the crucial photograph confirming Pauling’s prediction.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
