predication: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “predication” mean?
The act of asserting or declaring something about a subject.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of asserting or declaring something about a subject; in logic and grammar, the action of assigning a property, quality, or relation to a subject.
In linguistics, the process of linking a predicate (verb phrase) to its subject; in philosophy, the attribution of characteristics; in computing, a logical statement that can be true or false.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage frequency. The term is equally technical in both variants.
Connotations
Highly academic/logical in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora; almost exclusively found in specialist texts.
Grammar
How to Use “predication” in a Sentence
The predication of [property] to [subject]Predication concerning/about [topic]A predication that [clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “predication” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The theory predicates rationality upon the agent.
- We cannot predicate moral value on utility alone.
American English
- The model predicates success on early investment.
- You can't predicate an argument on a false premise.
adverb
British English
- The adjective is used predicatively.
- He argued predicatively from the given axioms.
American English
- The term functions predictively in that sentence.
- She analyzed the sentence predicatively.
adjective
British English
- The predicative element is essential to the clause.
- He focused on predicative logic.
American English
- The adjective serves a predicative function here.
- Predicative calculus is a branch of formal logic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core term in philosophy of language, linguistics (syntax/semantics), and logic. E.g., 'Aristotle's theory of predication.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be marked as highly formal or jargonistic.
Technical
Used in formal logic (predicate logic), computational linguistics (semantic role labeling), and knowledge representation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “predication”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “predication”
- Using 'prediction' (forecast) instead of 'predication'.
- Using it in informal contexts where 'statement' or 'claim' is appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'predicitation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Predication' is a logical/grammatical term for attributing a property to a subject. 'Prediction' is a forecast about a future event. They are false friends.
No, it is a rare, technical term used almost exclusively in academic contexts like philosophy, linguistics, and computer science.
It would sound highly unnatural and jargonistic. Use 'statement', 'claim', or 'assertion' instead.
The related verb is 'to predicate' (pronounced /ˈprɛdɪkeɪt/). It means to base something on or to assert something as a quality of a subject.
The act of asserting or declaring something about a subject.
Predication is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Predication: in British English it is pronounced /ˌprɛdɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌprɛdəˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. Too technical for idiomatic use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think PREDICATE + ACTION. Predication is the *action* of creating a predicate (like 'is blue') and linking it to a subject (like 'the sky').
Conceptual Metaphor
LINGUISTIC/LOGICAL STRUCTURE IS ARCHITECTURE (e.g., 'the *foundation* of a proposition', 'the *structure* of predication').
Practice
Quiz
Which field is MOST associated with the term 'predication'?