prophetic

American  

[pruh-fet-ik] / prəˈfɛt ɪk /

Sometimes prophetical

adjective

1. of or relating to a prophet.

   prophetic inspiration.

2. of the nature of or containing prophecy.

   prophetic writings.

3. having the function or powers of a prophet, as a person.

4. predictive; presageful or portentous; ominous.

   prophetic signs; prophetic warnings.

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prophetic British  

/ prəˈfɛtɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a prophet or prophecy

2. containing or of the nature of a prophecy; predictive

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Other Word Forms

• hyperprophetic adjective
• hyperprophetical adjective
• hyperprophetically adverb
• nonprophetic adjective
• nonprophetical adjective
• nonprophetically adverb
• postprophetic adjective
• postprophetical adjective
• preprophetic adjective
• propheticality noun
• prophetically adverb
• propheticalness noun
• pseudoprophetic adjective
• pseudoprophetical adjective
• quasi-prophetic adjective
• quasi-prophetical adjective
• quasi-prophetically adverb
• unprophetic adjective
• unprophetical adjective
• unprophetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of prophetic

First recorded in 1585–95; from Late Latin prophēticus, from Greek prophētikós; equivalent to prophet + -ic

Explanation

If you make a prediction and it comes true, your words were prophetic. Like the time you warned your dad against eating a whole box of donuts. He got sick, right? That was a prophetic warning. The adjective prophetic traces all the way back to the Greek word prophētikos, meaning "predicting." You know who's really good at predicting stuff? Prophets. Usually, prophetic is used to describe a thing — like a warning, a feeling, or a complaint — rather than a person.

Example Sentences

McIlroy's belief that finally landing the Green Jacket last year would pave the way for more major victories proved prophetic.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Pynchon is so prophetic, he looked at California in 1966 and already saw a silicon chip.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

People in the apostolic movement live in what they consider to be a prophetic moment, when God will reveal what is to come.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

The Jesse Jackson I remember began his career as a prophetic voice to the nation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

Once the cups were set out, and Henry had poured the tea, somber as a mandarin, we began to talk about the madnesses induced by the gods: poetic, prophetic, and, finally, Dionysian.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• apocalyptic
• prescient