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 of predictive

• prophetic
• sinister

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

Colossal is licensing its gene-editing technology to other labs and has spun out four businesses, the largest of which, a biologic predictive engine called Astromech, is valued at more than $2 billion. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Cala builds smart, predictive heat pump water heaters that can learn a household's habits and decide when to heat water based on electricity prices, solar production, and even grid forecasts. —Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

Stellantis wants to use AI to improve its product development and create customer-facing features such as predictive maintenance algorithms and efficiency coaching in the car. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2026

The new Mass General Brigham study adds important evidence about the predictive potential of these kinds of blood tests. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for predictive

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