predictor
Americannoun
-
predictors
plural
-
a person or thing that predicts.
-
Mathematics. a formula for determining additional values or derivatives of a function from the relationship of its given values.
noun
-
a person or thing that predicts
-
an instrument, used in conjunction with an anti-aircraft gun, that determines the speed, distance, height, and direction of hostile aircraft
-
statistics a more modern term for independent variable
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of predictor
From the Medieval Latin word praedictor, dating back to 1645–55. See predict, -tor
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.
See Examples For:
“We can look at the past as the best predictor for the future,” said Dave Bader, chief operations and education officer at the center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Sustained economic growth is the surest predictor of a country’s ability to withstand climate shocks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
You can play BBC Sport's new Match of the Day predictor game every week, featuring six fixtures from domestic and European competitions.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Rectal bleeding was the strongest predictor of a colorectal cancer diagnosis, raising the odds by 8.5 times.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
Whether or not a child cheated on, say, the word completion test was not an iron-clad predictor of whether he or she would cheat on, say, the underlining ^4’s part of the speed test.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
While they are controversial, their numbers are often quoted as predictors of the likelihood of future events.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026
“The real goal is to improve youth healthy development, and when we look at the biggest predictors of young people’s mental health, screen time is not one of the big ones,” Teachman said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Last season, none of the BBC predictors backed United to make the top four, and they finished third.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Mr. Friedman cites research that “people’s belief about their team’s ability is one of the best predictors of a team’s actual performance,” yet there is still potential for bias.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
The predictors of a crown, with a royal exchequer from the alchemists, seduced the imagination, and a’Laski invited the sages with their families to reside at his castle.
From Amenities of Literature Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature by Isaac Disraeli
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.
