predictor
Americannoun
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a person or thing that predicts.
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Mathematics. a formula for determining additional values or derivatives of a function from the relationship of its given values.
noun
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a person or thing that predicts
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an instrument, used in conjunction with an anti-aircraft gun, that determines the speed, distance, height, and direction of hostile aircraft
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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:
Rectal bleeding was the strongest predictor of a colorectal cancer diagnosis, raising the odds by 8.5 times.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
“Early number sense is the single best predictor of academic success in elementary school,” Klein said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
While 99.65% of the users playing the BBC's new predictor game backed them to lose against Spain, 'only' 83% thought they would be beaten by Uruguay too.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
Working “in any capacity” during college is “the single strongest predictor of post-graduation employment,” a recent ZipRecruiter report concluded.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026
Perhaps as a result, a child’s economic background is a better predictor of school performance in the United States than in Denmark, the Netherlands, or France, one study found.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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
"These findings are particularly concerning because persistence is foundational to skill acquisition and is one of the strongest predictors of long-term learning," the authors wrote.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Younger age and a higher initial Glasgow Coma Scale score were strong predictors of unexpected survival.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 5, 2026
Before people even start their careers, ACEs reduce the probability of getting a college degree, one of the best predictors of career earnings.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 2, 2025
Owls, too, are sure predictors of death, and may be heard hooting in the most doleful manner outside the house of anyone doomed to die shortly.
From Animal Ghosts Or, Animal Hauntings and the Hereafter by O'Donnell, Elliott
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.
