Forecast: meaning, definitions and examples

Used mainly for predicting weather conditions and sometimes for finance or economic trends. Often involves scientific data and analysis.

• The weather forecast predicts rain tomorrow
• The economic forecast indicates slow growth next year

General term for making statements about the future, which can be based on intuition, guesswork, or some analysis. Used in everyday conversations.

• She made a prediction that he would win the game
• My prediction is that it will be a sunny day

Primarily used in medical and health contexts to describe the likely course or outcome of a disease. Can also refer to outlook in specific situations.

• The doctor's prognosis for his recovery is optimistic
• The prognosis for the project looks good

Used for estimates about future financial performance, demographics, or scenarios often based on current trends and data. Tends to be more formal and data-driven.

• The company's sales projection for next year is very positive
• The population projection shows an increase over the next decade

Use in professional or scientific contexts, especially related to weather, finance, or business when you have data and models to predict future events.

• The weather forecast predicts rain for the weekend
• The financial forecast suggests the company will grow by 10% next year

Commonly used in various contexts to indicate that you think something will happen in the future, based on observation, intuition, or limited data. It can be informal or formal.

• Many people predict that technology will continue to shape the future of education
• It's hard to predict how the votes will turn out

Often used in everyday situations where you expect something to happen and prepare for it, sometimes implying eagerness or apprehension.

• She anticipated that there would be traffic, so she left early
• He did not anticipate such a strong reaction from the audience

Primarily used in a formal, often medical or scientific context to mean forecasting based on data, usually with a serious or clinical tone. It can come off as old-fashioned.

• The doctor prognosticated a full recovery within six months
• Experts prognosticate significant changes in global climate patterns