predictor
gb/pɹɪdˈɪktɚ/ us/pɹɪdˈɪktɚ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
role
1
person or thing that predicts
Someone or something that can tell what will happen later.
Usage pattern:
[something/someone] is a predictor of [something]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse predictor (the thing that forecasts) with prediction (the forecast itself).
Synonyms
forecaster (Usually a person or service that predicts weather, trends, or events.)
|
indicator (Emphasizes a sign that suggests an outcome rather than an actual forecast.)
Collocations
a good predictor
|a reliable predictor
|a strong predictor
|a key predictor
|a predictor of success
|a predictor of disease
|an early predictor
|the best predictor
|economic predictor
|weather predictor
Themes
daily_life
|science
|business
|weather
Examples
- Past performance is not always a reliable predictor of future results.
- High fever can be an early predictor of infection.
- Analysts treat consumer confidence as a key predictor of spending.
Learner examples
- Sleep is a good predictor of mood.
- Her test score was a strong predictor of success.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
2
variable used to predict outcome
In a model, a value that helps predict another value.
Usage pattern:
use [something] as a predictor (of/for) [something]
Common mistake:
In this sense, predictor usually means an input variable, not a person who predicts.
Synonyms
feature (Common in machine learning; often implies an input used by an algorithm.)
|
independent variable (Common in statistics/experiments; emphasizes its role relative to the dependent variable.)
Antonyms
outcome (The value being predicted rather than the input used to predict it.)
Collocations
predictor variable
|predictor value
|a predictor of the outcome
|independent predictor
|significant predictor
|strong predictor
|candidate predictor
|predictor in a regression
|predictor in the model
|set of predictors
Themes
statistics
|data_science
|education
|technology
Examples
- Age and income were significant predictors of spending in the model.
- In linear regression, each predictor contributes to the predicted value.
- The researchers removed weak predictors to reduce overfitting.
Learner examples
- In this model, age is a predictor.
- We added one more predictor to improve accuracy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
predictor
IPA
GB/pɹɪdˈɪktɚ/
US/pɹɪdˈɪktɚ/
Syllables & stress
pre - dict - or (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dict)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: predictor
- Plural: predictors
Word family
Forms
predictors
noun
Core family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
branch predictor
1/bɹˈænt͡ʃ pɹɪdˈɪktɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
CPU unit predicting branches
A CPU part that guesses the next instruction path.
Examples
- A good branch predictor can significantly improve performance.
- The new chip has a more accurate branch predictor than the previous model.
linear predictor
1/lˈɪniɚ pɹɪdˈɪktɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
weighted sum in a model
A score made from predictors and their weights.
Examples
- The model uses a logistic link applied to the linear predictor.
- We interpreted the linear predictor as a risk score.
predictor-corrector method
1/pɹɪdˈɪktɚ kˈɔɹˈɛktɚ mˈɛθəd/
fixed phrase
technical
numerical method with two steps
A method that guesses a value, then fixes it.
Examples
- They used a predictor-corrector method to integrate the differential equation.
- The predictor-corrector method improved stability compared with the basic scheme.