# predictive

/pɹiˈdɪktɪv/ (US) · /pɹɪdˈɪktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/predictive
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. forecasting the future

adjective · CEFR B2

able to say what will happen in the future based on information you have now.

For teachers: relating to or having the power to predict future events or trends based on existing data.

- The company uses predictive software to guess which products will be popular next year.
- Economists are searching for predictive indicators that might signal a market downturn before it actually occurs.

Usage: Often used before a noun like 'model', 'analysis', or 'text'.

### 2. medical/statistical accuracy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing how well a test or piece of data can predict a specific result.

For teachers: relating to the probability that a positive or negative test result correctly identifies the presence or absence of a condition.

- The doctor explained that the test has high predictive value for this disease.
- The study evaluated the positive predictive value of the new screening tool across a diverse patient demographic.

Usage: Commonly appears in the phrase 'predictive value'.

### 3. grammar/logic statement

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

a sentence that says if one thing happens, another thing will definitely follow.

For teachers: a conditional construction where the apodosis (the 'then' clause) contains a prediction about a future state.

- The sentence 'If you eat that, you will get sick' is a predictive.
- The linguist analysed the use of predictives in political speeches to determine how candidates establish a sense of inevitability.

## Examples

- The app uses predictive text to guess your next word.
- Economists use predictive models to determine how a change in interest rates might affect the housing market.
- While the initial symptoms were mild, doctors looked for predictive biomarkers that might indicate how the patient would respond to the new treatment over the coming months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.