Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for "self-fulfilling prophecy"
SEE ALSO:
Pop Culture dictionary results for self-fulfilling prophecy.

self-fulfilling prophecy

American  
[self-fool-fil-ing prof-uh-see] / ˈsɛlfˌfʊlˈfɪl ɪŋ ˈprɒf ə si /

noun

  1. a prediction, whether founded or unfounded, that is ultimately confirmed because the very act of foretelling it influences behaviors and perceptions in ways that ultimately bring it about.

  2. predestination paradox.


Etymology

Origin of self-fulfilling prophecy

First recorded in 1945–50


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:

I’m mostly living the self-fulfilling prophecy of the nunnery, though I have recently made a Bumble profile.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

While the first autism studies in the 1940s did include a small cohort of girls, the condition appeared to be more prevalent in boys and the gender divide became a "self-fulfilling prophecy".

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

One knock-on effect might be that farmers plant less for fear of losing crops to a strong El Niño, making its impact on ag commodity prices a self-fulfilling prophecy, Marex says.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026

People who expect elevated price increases may choose to spend more in the present and demand higher wage increases, which could make inflation expectations a self-fulfilling prophecy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

“Delphine, do you know what a self-fulfilling prophecy is?”

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com