prognostication

noun

prog·​nos·​ti·​ca·​tion (ˌ)präg-ˌnä-stə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: an indication in advance : foretoken

2

a

: an act, the fact, or the power of prognosticating : forecast

b

: foreboding

Synonyms

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

Examples of prognostication in a Sentence

the complete fulfillment of his prognostication surprised even him

at the sight of the brooding mansion, her prognostications of ill fortune grew stronger

Recent Examples on the Web

Especially in times of market uncertainty or volatility, our attention tends to be sucked into the bottomless vortex of pointless prognostication and aimless activity. —Tim Maurer, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025

Indeed, the annals of stock market commentaries are replete with prognostications that, in retrospect, were almost comically wrong. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025

Week 11 picks: This is where USA TODAY Sports' panel of experts has provided fans with the great public service of making prognostications for every game this weekend, both straight up and against the spread. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024

The specific prognostications may vary — the precogs can disagree among themselves — but there remains something essentially supernatural about their abilities. —Sam Worley, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pronosticacioun, prognosticacyon "action of foretelling events, prediction, sign portending an event," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French pronosticacion, borrowed from Medieval Latin pronōsticātiōn-, pronōsticātiō (also with -g-) "forecast, prognosis," from prognōsticāre, pronōsticāre "to predict, forecast, portend" + Latin -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at prognosticate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prognostication

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

prognostication

noun

prog·​nos·​ti·​ca·​tion (ˌ)präg-ˌnäs-tə-ˈkā-shən 

: forecast entry 2