# prophet

/ˈpɹɑfət/ (US) · /pɹˈɒfɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prophet
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. religious messenger

noun · CEFR B2

a person who people believe was chosen by God to give a message to the world.

For teachers: a person regarded as an inspired proclaimer of the will of God. Often used as a title for specific historical figures in Abrahamic religions.

- In many religions, a prophet is someone who brings a message from God to the people.
- The ancient scriptures detail the lives of various prophets who were tasked with guiding the community back to spiritual devotion.

### 2. someone who predicts the future

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

someone who says what they think will happen in the future.

For teachers: a person who predicts or foretells what will happen in the future, often with a sense of authority or certainty.

- He was seen as a prophet of the internet age because he predicted smartphones in the 1980s.
- Economists are rarely successful prophets, as the sheer number of variables in global markets makes precise forecasting nearly impossible.

## Examples

- The prophet shared a message of peace with the crowd.
- Many religions have a central prophet whose writings and life stories form the basis of their holy books.
- Scholars often distinguish between the historical figure of the prophet and the later theological interpretations of their divine revelations.

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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.