Prognostic
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 prognosis rare
"There are several opinions as to what he meant But no one considers it a happy prognostic."
- 2 a sign of something about to happen wordnet
- 3 A sign by which a future event may be known or foretold.
"Careful observers may foretell the hour (By sure prognostics) when to dread a show’r. While rain depends, the pensive cat gives o’er Her frolics, and pursues her tail no more."
- 4 A prediction of the future.
"The choice of a successor was no light matter. That choice would inevitably be considered by the country as a prognostic of the highest import."
- 5 One who predicts the future.
- 1 Of, pertaining to or characterized by prognosis or prediction.
- 1 of or relating to prediction; having value for making predictions wordnet
Example
More examples"There are several opinions as to what he meant But no one considers it a happy prognostic."
Etymology
From Medieval Latin prognosticus, from Ancient Greek προγνωστικός (prognōstikós, “foreknowing”), from πρό (pró) + γνωστικός (gnōstikós, “of or for knowing, good at knowing”), from γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō, “to learn to know, to perceive, to mark, to learn”).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.