predestination

American  

[pri-des-tuh-ney-shuhn, pree-des-] / prɪˌdɛs təˈneɪ ʃən, ˌpri dɛs- /

noun

1. an act of predestinating or predestining.

2. the state of being predestinated or predestined.

3. fate; destiny.

4. Theology.

   1. the action of God in foreordaining from eternity whatever comes to pass.

   2. the decree of God by which certain souls are foreordained to salvation.

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predestination British  

/ priːˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. theol

   1. the act of God foreordaining every event from eternity

   2. the doctrine or belief, esp associated with Calvin, that the final salvation of some of mankind is foreordained from eternity by God

2. the act of predestining or the state of being predestined

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predestination Cultural  

1. In theology, the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted predestination to mean that God willed eternal damnation for some people and salvation (see also salvation) for others.

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Etymology

Origin of predestination

1300–50; Middle English predestinacioun < Late Latin praedestinātiōn- (stem of praedestinātiō ). See predestinate, -ion

Explanation

If you think everything happens for a reason and we have no control over our own futures, then you believe in predestination. In religious terms, predestination is the belief that everything that happens has already been determined by God — He's got a master plan, and there's no deviating from it. It's kind of a depressing and extreme world view that doesn't leave much room for making personal choices. Predestination is related to the concept of omniscience — meaning God knows everything. If you're a strong believer in free will, then you'll probably hate the idea of predestination.

Example Sentences

Like many of them, Predestination has its own engaging twist: Ethan Hawke plays a time agent who nips back through history to snuff out crimes before they can be committed.

From The Verge • Jul. 11, 2015

The movie Predestination, released in the UK this week, is the very latest in the long history of time travel films.

From The Verge • Jul. 11, 2015

Predestination Ethan Hawke plays a time-traveling special agent in this 2014 sci-fi thriller based on a Robert A. Heinlein short story.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2015

An inscrutable sci-fi thriller recalling "Looper," "Predestination" features Ethan Hawke as a time-traveling agent on a mission to intercept a notorious serial bomber.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2015

No longer anonymous, but named, identified, the procession marched slowly on; on through an opening in the wall, slowly on into the Social Predestination Room.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley