1
Core quality
Useful for forecasting a future event, result, or behaviour from present or past information.
Example
The model has strong predictive accuracy for short-term demand.
predictive
/prɪˈdɪktɪv/ · prih-DIK-tivadjective
Useful for forecasting a future event, result, or behaviour from present or past information.
Use predictive to express this relationship precisely: useful for forecasting a future event, result, or behaviour from present or past information.
What predictive Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
Past performance was not predictive of later success.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
Researchers tested whether the biomarker had predictive value.
Use predictive Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The model has strong predictive accuracy for short-term demand.
Past performance was not predictive of later success.
Researchers tested whether the biomarker had predictive value.
Precision Matters
Predictive overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
predictive
vs.Means useful for forecasting a future event, result, or behaviour from present or past information.
prescient
Means showing accurate knowledge of events before they happen.
predictive
vs.Means useful for forecasting a future event, result, or behaviour from present or past information.
retrospective
Means looking back on, reviewing, or using information about past events.
predictive
vs.Means useful for forecasting a future event, result, or behaviour from present or past information.
empirical
Means based on observation, measurement, or experience rather than theory alone.
predictive
vs.Means useful for forecasting a future event, result, or behaviour from present or past information.
conjecture
Means a tentative conclusion based on incomplete evidence.
Test predictive in Context
The measure reliably forecasts a future outcome.
1
Because the measure consistently anticipated later reading scores, it proved highly ___ of academic performance.