prediction

noun

pre·​dic·​tion pri-ˈdik-shən 

1

: an act of predicting

2

: something that is predicted : forecast

Synonyms of prediction

• predicting
• forecast
• forecasting
• prophecy

Examples of prediction in a Sentence

Journalists have begun making predictions about the winner of the coming election.

Despite predictions that the store would fail, it has done very well.

The figures and statistics are used for the prediction of future economic trends.

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year, a team advised by Haifeng Xu, a professor at the University of Chicago, built a benchmarking service that evaluates AI’s predictions on a continuing basis. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026

Doomsday predictions abound – including among AI executives who have a financial incentive to hype up the power of their own products. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026

The prediction market’s CEO, Tarek Mansour, told CNBC that bets on Bad Bunny’s first song alone exceeded $100 million in volume. —Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026

In addition to including younger adults and forecasting predictions further into the future, the new model predicts a broader range of outcomes, including heart failure. —Angela Haupt, Time, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prediction

• addiction
• affliction
• constriction
• conviction
• depiction
• eviction
• infliction
• nonfiction
• restriction
• antifriction
• benediction
• contradiction

Kids Definition

prediction

noun

pre·​dic·​tion pri-ˈdik-shən 

1

: an act of predicting

2

: something predicted : forecast

a prediction that there would be an earthquake

predictive

-ˈdik-tiv

adjective