prescience: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “prescience” mean?
The fact of knowing or correctly predicting what will happen in the future.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The fact of knowing or correctly predicting what will happen in the future.
The quality of having foreknowledge or foresight; the ability to anticipate future events or developments, often based on a deep understanding of patterns and current circumstances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The word is equally rare and formal in both variants.
Connotations
Often carries a slightly mystical or intellectual connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Low-frequency, formal word in both dialects. Slightly more common in academic or literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “prescience” in a Sentence
[Subject] demonstrated prescience in [verb-ing]...Her prescience about [noun phrase] was uncanny.The book is noted for its author's political prescience.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prescience” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [None. 'Prescience' is a noun. The related verb is 'foresee' or 'anticipate'.]
American English
- [None. 'Prescience' is a noun. The related verb is 'foresee' or 'anticipate'.]
adverb
British English
- [The related adverb is 'presciently'.] He had presciently warned of the coming crisis.
- She spoke presciently about the challenges of AI.
American English
- [The related adverb is 'presciently'.] They presciently moved their data to the cloud.
- The report presciently identified key vulnerabilities.
adjective
British English
- Her prescient remarks about the economy were later vindicated.
- The novelist was remarkably prescient about drone warfare.
American English
- His prescient investment in green tech paid off enormously.
- Few were prescient enough to predict the pandemic's full impact.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe an executive's or investor's foresight about market trends. (e.g., 'His prescience in anticipating the digital shift saved the company.')
Academic
Used in historical, political, or literary analysis to describe figures who anticipated future developments. (e.g., 'The study examines the author's prescience regarding social fragmentation.')
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual conversation. Might be used for dramatic effect. (e.g., 'With uncanny prescience, she packed an umbrella.')
Technical
Rare. Could be used in futurology, strategic planning, or risk analysis contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “prescience”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prescience”
- Mispronunciation: /priːˈsaɪəns/ (like 'precise'). Incorrect spelling: 'presceince', 'precience'. Using it as an adjective (the adjective is 'prescient').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A prediction is a specific statement about the future. Prescience is the *ability* to make such accurate predictions—it's the foresight or knowledge itself, not the act of stating it.
They are close synonyms. 'Prescience' is more formal and often implies a deeper, almost intuitive or prophetic knowledge. 'Foresight' is more common and can refer to practical planning for the future.
Typically, it has a neutral or positive connotation (admirable foresight). However, it can be used ironically or to imply an unsettling, almost supernatural knowledge (e.g., 'his uncanny prescience was unnerving').
Pronunciation. Many incorrectly say /priːˈsaɪəns/, rhyming the middle with 'pie'. The standard pronunciations are /ˈpres.i.əns/ (UK) and /ˈpreʃ.əns/ (US), with the stress on the first syllable.
The fact of knowing or correctly predicting what will happen in the future.
Prescience is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Prescience: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpres.i.əns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpreʃ.əns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly; the word itself is formal and rarely part of idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PRE-SCIENCE. Knowing (science) something BEFORE (pre) it happens.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS VISION / THE FUTURE IS A LANDSCAPE AHEAD ('foresight', 'vision'). TIME IS SPACE ('fore' = front, ahead).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'prescience' CORRECTLY?