prescient

[ presh-uhnt, ‑ee-uhntpree-shuhnt, ‑shee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having prescience, or knowledge of things or events before they exist or happen; having foresight:

   The prescient economist was one of the few to see the financial collapse coming.

Other Words From

• pre·scient·ly adverb
• non·pre·sci·ent adjective
• non·pre·sci·ent·ly adverb
• un·pre·scient adjective
• un·pre·scient·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prescient¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Old French, from Latin praesciēns (stem praescient- ), present participle of praescīre “to know beforehand,” equivalent to prae- “before” + scīre “to know”; pre- ( def ); science ( def )

Example Sentences

In fact, the original Burroughs books possess a clear “green” streak that now seems quite prescient.

From The Daily Beast

Head of State was prescient, but hollow; I Think I Love My Wife was bland; and the documentary Good Hair was fascinating fun.

From The Daily Beast

What is striking about the novel when read today, however, is its prescient embrace of technology.

From The Daily Beast

You spoke out against the Iraq War early on, which was pretty prescient.

From The Daily Beast

If she runs in 2016, her prescient advocacy for early-childhood education might be peaking at just the right time.

From The Daily Beast

The prescient Bishop, however, had provided fresh robes, and a circlet of gold was made to do duty for a crown.

From Project Gutenberg

Meanwhile, the prescient shadow of the coming "boom" had stolen over the hills and the work of the Guard had grown rapidly.

From Project Gutenberg

"But I'm afraid we can't ask the Merridews back, as we ought," she said, once more socially prescient.

From Project Gutenberg

A guy with a dream—or perhaps a prescient glimpse of his own future.

From Project Gutenberg

He ruled over lands, and was of all men wisest and prescient of the future.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• farsighted