prophecy

noun

proph·​e·​cy ˈprä-fə-sē 

variants or less commonly prophesy

plural prophecies also prophesies

1

: an inspired utterance of a prophet

2

: the function or vocation of a prophet

specifically : the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose

3

: a prediction of something to come

Synonyms

• auguring
• augury
• bodement
• cast
• forecast
• forecasting
• foretelling
• predicting
• prediction
• presaging
• prognosis
• prognostic
• prognosticating
• prognostication
• soothsaying
• vaticination

Examples of prophecy in a Sentence

The prophecies of the author have all come true.

She has the gift of prophecy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hallucinations taken as prophecy, destabilized on a middling journey to outpace, to open-chase, to claim supremacy, to reign indefinitely, haste and paste control altering deletion, unstable desire remains undefeated. —John Werner, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

The groundhog made his prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and delivered his meteorological prophecy in Groundhogese. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025

In a way, the outrage over penalties called in the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday was a case of self-fulfilling prophecy among fans. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2025

The young boy of prophecy gets trampled into a brain-dead coma. —Darren Franich, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prophecie, prophesie, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin prophētīa, borrowed from Greek prophēteía "gift of interpreting the will of the gods, interpretation of a god's will," (New Testament) "gift of speaking, preaching and expounding scripture under the Holy Spirit's influence," from prophḗtēs prophet + -ia -ia entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prophecy

• prophesy

Kids Definition

prophecy

noun

proph·​e·​cy ˈpräf-ə-sē 

plural prophecies

1

: the sayings of a prophet

2

: the foretelling of the future

the gift of prophecy

3

: something foretold : prediction