prediction

American  

[pri-dik-shuhn] / prɪˈdɪk ʃən /

noun

• predictions
  plural

1. an act of predicting.

2. an instance of this; prophecy.

   Synonyms:

   projection, divination, prognostication, augury, forecast

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prediction British  

/ prɪˈdɪkʃən /

noun

1. the act of predicting

2. something predicted; a forecast, prophecy, etc

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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

• predictions
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prediction predictions

Prakash told the Guardian that he was inspired to create the bogus survey after polls and prediction markets showed Abdul El-Sayed winning the Democratic U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

The clearest example: In July, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Kalshi, calling prediction markets “gambling platforms, plain and simple” and seeking penalties that could reach $36 billion.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

That means researchers may have a realistic path toward testing the prediction experimentally.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

Through the magic of prediction markets, it’s both!

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

But in scientific language, a word conveys more than an idea—a mechanism, a consequence, a prediction.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

This time, they are in 21/28 predictions, with five people backing them to be runners-up.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The Sky Blues have shown real ambition in the summer and will, along with other newcomers Ipswich Town and Hull City, relish making a nonsense of naysayer predictions such as this one.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

What are five predictions that will come true?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

In this view, traveling waves may help explain how the brain transforms a constant flood of complicated sensory signals into coherent perceptions, predictions, behaviors, and experiences.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026

It is a key feature of his work that Galileo always carried out experiments to test hypotheses, modifying or abandoning those hypotheses if the outcomes of the experiments did not match their predictions.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• forecast
• forecasting
• guess
• indicator
• prognosis
• prophecy