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

At midday Saturday, both the Kalshi and Polymarket predictive markets had the Heat as the favorites to land James. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2026

To assist with that capability, Google Research plans to use the company’s AI models to compare operational FireSat data with historical images in order to accurately identify very small fires and to inform predictive modeling of wildfires. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026

That is why healthcare organizations should design their predictive systems to recognize and respond to uncertainty. — Subba Rao Katragadda, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Maritime governance is shifting from reactive enforcement toward predictive oversight. — IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for predictive

• addictive
• constrictive
• restrictive
• vindictive
• magnetostrictive