prognosticator

American  

[prog-nos-ti-key-ter] / prɒgˈnɒs tɪˌkeɪ tər /

noun

1. a person who forecasts or predicts something future from present indications or signs; prophet.

   Maybe this faltering team can somehow defy the prognosticators and experts and make the playoffs.

2. something that is a sign or indicator of a coming event.

   The woolly bear caterpillars and other prognosticators of winter suggest we will have a more normal one this year.

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Etymology

Origin of prognosticator

First recorded in 1550–60; prognosticat(e) ( def. ) + -or ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

For the majority of the Oscars race, awards prognosticators concurred that Chalamet was headed for victory, but convictions wavered after Jordan notched a surprise win at the Actor Awards — to Viola Davis’ great delight.

From Los Angeles Times

That positivity, some awards prognosticators contend, may have moved “Sinners” within striking distance of the winner’s circle at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.

From Los Angeles Times

Industry prognosticators and AI evangelists have spent months foretelling the toll Anthropic and other sophisticated AI tools would exact on software-as-a-service companies that were darlings of the previous internet era.

From The Wall Street Journal

Market prognosticators often reach for long explanations to justify periods of fragility, but those answers are rarely clear in real time and remain debated even in hindsight.

From Barron's

In December, Federal Reserve policymakers penciled in an uptick in growth this year compared with 2025, an outlook shared by many Wall Street prognosticators.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• prophet
• seer
• soothsayer