Predictor
prɪˈdɪktər
Definitions
A person or thing that foretells or indicates a future event or condition.
prɪˈdɪktər
A person or thing that predicts something.
The weather report is a reliable predictor of tomorrow's conditions.
💡 Simply: A predictor is like a fortune teller for any situation. It uses information to guess what might happen next. For example, if your car is making weird noises, that's a predictor that something might be wrong with the engine.
👶 For kids: A predictor is something that helps you guess what might happen next. Like, a dark cloud might be a predictor of rain.
More Examples
In this study, stress levels were found to be a predictor of heart disease.
A high score on the aptitude test is often seen as a predictor of success in the program.
How It's Used
"Scientists use various statistical models as predictors of weather patterns."
"Economic indicators serve as predictors of market trends."
From predict + -or. Predict derives from Latin praedicere 'to foretell', from prae- 'before' + dicere 'to say'.
The term 'predictor' began to gain prominence in the 20th century, especially with the development of statistical modeling and forecasting.
Memory tip
Think of a crystal ball - it's a predictor of the future.