predictive
UK: prɪˈdɪktɪv | US: prɪˈdɪktɪv
adj. relating to or having the function of predicting future events or trends
adj. (statistics) using data analysis to forecast probabilities
The word "predictive" originates from Latin praedictus (past participle of praedicere, "to say beforehand"). The morpheme pre- (before) combines with dict (from dicere, "to say"), reflecting the core idea of "declaring in advance." The suffix -ive (from Latin -ivus) forms adjectives indicating a tendency or function. Over time, "predictive" evolved in English (first recorded in the 17th century) to describe systematic forecasting, especially in scientific and statistical contexts.
Predictive analytics help businesses anticipate customer needs.
The model’s predictive accuracy improved with more data.
Her predictive skills in weather forecasting saved the village from floods.
AI-driven tools offer predictive maintenance for industrial machines.
Critics questioned the predictive power of his economic theory.