predictive

adjective

pre·​dic·​tive pri-ˈdik-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or usable or valuable for prediction

predictive medical factors

2

: based on or generated by using methods of prediction

predictive models

predictive text

Usually predictive policing refers to feeding reams of city data into a computer and dispatching extra officers to areas that are deemed to be at high risk of future crime.

—Leon Neyfakh

predictively adverb

Like an astrological chart, it can be made to fit any case, and it works better retrospectively than predictively.

—Carol Tavris

Synonyms

• prophetic
• sinister
• prophetical

Examples of predictive in a Sentence

unfortunately, the stock market crash of 1929 turned out to be a predictive event, for the next decade was consumed by the Great Depression

Recent Examples on the Web

For older couples, living arrangements, such as sharing a home, were less predictive of psychological well-being than sharing a sleeping space. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Carmody said the predictive analysis system is patent pending, and undertaking other certifications, and anticipates its release in February next year. —Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2025

And the vision became reality as early as 2016, with the introduction and integration of Einstein into the Customer Resource Management (CRM) platform, enabling more predictive and personalized customer experiences. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025

These festival haven’t just proven predictive over which films receive Academy Award nominations, but actually influential. —Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for predictive

• addictive
• constrictive
• restrictive
• vindictive
• fictive
• magnetostrictive