knowledge of the future (usually said to be obtained from a divine source)
"The ancient sage spoke with a prophecy that foretold the coming storm before it arrived."
a prediction uttered under divine inspiration
"The ancient prophet delivered his prophecy while claiming to speak directly from God."
A prediction, especially one made by a prophet or under divine inspiration.
"The ancient text contains a prophecy that foretells the rise of a great empire."
In plain English: A prophecy is a prediction about something that will happen in the future, often said to come from a divine source or special insight.
"The ancient prophecy predicted that the city would fall before winter arrived."
Usage: Use prophecy to describe predictions believed to be inspired by a higher power rather than simple guesses based on evidence. This term is often confused with the verb "prophecy," which means to make such a prediction aloud.
Alternative form of prophesy
"The ancient text is often cited as a prophecy that predicted the rise and fall of empires."
In plain English: To prophecy means to predict something that will happen in the future, often based on special insight rather than just guessing.
"The old woman prophesied that the village would be saved during the storm."
The word prophecy comes from the Latin prophetia, which was borrowed via French and Middle English to replace an earlier Germanic term meaning "wise speaking." Its original Greek root combined words for "before" and "to tell," referring literally to a speaker who announces things before they happen.