# prophecy

/ˈpɹɑfəsi/ (US) · /pɹˈɒfəsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prophecy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a prediction

noun · CEFR B2

a prediction about the future, especially one that people believe comes from a god.

For teachers: a prediction of future events, typically one made by a prophet or under divine inspiration.

- The old woman made a prophecy that the kingdom would one day fall.
- The oracle delivered a cryptic prophecy that the king misinterpreted, leading his army into a disastrous and unnecessary conflict.

### 2. the power of predicting

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the ability or act of telling what will happen in the future.

For teachers: the faculty, function, or practice of a prophet; the act of divining the future.

- He was believed to have the gift of prophecy from a young age.
- The monk was revered for his gift of prophecy, though he rarely spoke of the visions that haunted his sleep.

## Examples

- The old woman made a prophecy about the king's downfall.
- Many ancient myths center on a hero trying to escape a prophecy, only to fulfill it by accident.
- The poet's dark prophecy regarding the city's future seemed less like divine inspiration and more like a sharp analysis of current political tensions.

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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.