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

Such theological reasoning is serious, stalwart and chilly, not unrelated to the cold logic of double predestination and the denial of free will.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

That autonomy keeps “Maria” from being a thematic gut punch about predestination like Larraín’s other outings, but Jolie’s stunning central performance makes up for what the film’s story lacks.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2024

Gail fed her children’s developing minds with notions of predestination, aliens and the occult.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2024

He said: “It’s an attempt to predict the future, which is, of course, impossible. So it ties into the themes of fate, predestination, and the unpredictability of the future.”

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2024

From there I got to thinking about predestination.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns