futurist

noun

fu·​tur·​ist ˈfyü-chə-rist 

1

: one who studies and predicts the future especially on the basis of current trends

2

: one who advocates or practices futurism

futurist adjective

Synonyms of futurist

• diviner
• forecaster
• prophet
• mystic
• sibyl

Examples of futurist in a Sentence

economic futurists predict a new world order in which information is the resource that drives a nation's economy

Recent Examples on the Web

During the Cold War, as futurists on both sides of the Iron Curtain plotted to control the direction of history, another group coalesced around a more modest idea. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, futurists and the Bureau of Labor Statistics project that Gen Z and Gen Alpha will average 18 to 25 jobs and six to nine distinct career chapters, more than double the volatility of prior generations. — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Cher moved from folk-pop duo to television star to Oscar-winning actress to dance-floor futurist to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and memoirist. — Debbie Millman, Time, 25 July 2026

Shelly Palmer, a futurist who consults for Microsoft and other companies, spends his days explaining the trends in AI to corporate leadership. — Jill Kargman, Architectural Digest, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

futurist

noun

fu·​tur·​ist ˈfyü-chə-rəst 

: a person who tries to tell what the future will be like by studying current trends