prediction

noun

pre·​dic·​tion pri-ˈdik-shən How to pronounce prediction (audio)
1
: an act of predicting
2
: something that is predicted : forecast

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But these complaints do not negate the actual successes of inflation, nor its ability to make truly generic predictions. Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025 That forecast might sound suspiciously familiar to skeptics who have seen such decadal predictions come and go in the past. Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 Robinhood Markets — The financial trading platform fell 2% after Reuters reported that Robinhood is open to deals to expand its prediction markets business. Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025 Some scientists question how useful predictions made by AI will be, if the AI can’t provide an explanation for them. Veronique Greenwood, Time, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prediction

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prediction was in 1561

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Cite this Entry

“Prediction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prediction. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

prediction

noun
pre·​dic·​tion pri-ˈdik-shən How to pronounce prediction (audio)
1
: an act of predicting
2
: something predicted : forecast
a prediction that there would be an earthquake
predictive
-ˈdik-tiv
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prediction

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