projection
n. C / Un. an estimate about what will happen in the future, based on information you have now. You often see this word used in business to talk about expected sales or costs.
n. an estimate or forecast of a future situation based on an analysis of present trends. It frequently appears in professional contexts to describe expected financial or statistical outcomes.
The company's sales projections for the next quarter look very promising.
Based on current population trends, the city's latest projection suggests we will need three new schools by the end of the decade.
The economic projection failed to account for sudden supply chain disruptions, rendering the initial revenue estimates overly optimistic and forcing the board to revise their annual budget.
From either the Middle French projection or its etymon, the Classical Latin prōiectiō (stem: prōiectiōn-), from prōiciō, equivalent to project + -ion. Compare the Modern French projection, the German Projektion, and the Italian proiezione.
The noun is frequently used in the plural when referring to financial or statistical forecasts; it commonly pairs with verbs like 'make', 'exceed', or 'revise'.