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

As a result, automotive companies have new opportunities to create revenue streams through digital services, predictive maintenance, fleet management, and personalized mobility experiences, said Narayan. — Ray Fernandez, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

As airports become busier and advanced aircraft enter service, the company believes predictive systems such as ZEE could help aviation authorities improve ground operations without changing the central role of human oversight. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026

Badgley said his team uses a predictive algorithm to calculate the car’s dynamic control systems, relying on the additional torque of the new engine to change its feel. — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026

Satellites generate the data, AI turns it into predictive intelligence, and governments, emergency responders and businesses convert those insights into coordinated action. — Karryl Kim Sagun Trajano, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for predictive

• addictive
• constrictive
• restrictive
• vindictive
• magnetostrictive