predestination

noun

pre·​des·​ti·​na·​tion (ˌ)prē-ˌde-stə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌprē-de-

1

: the act of predestinating : the state of being predestinated

2

: the doctrine that God in consequence of his foreknowledge of all events infallibly guides those who are destined for salvation

Examples of predestination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dylan arrives on the scene with the false modesty of predestination, touched by God but desperate for a place to sleep for the night. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2024

The Rings of Power is governed by an overwhelming sense of predestination. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024

Thus, David seeks to regain control of his life, presenting a thrilling exploration of the philosophical tension that exists between free will and predestination. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024

Request a Demo Rorty’s version of redemption stands out against certain religious strands in that it is explicitly set against predestination or essentialism. —Big Think, 14 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

predestination

noun

pre·​des·​ti·​na·​tion (ˌ)prē-ˌdes-tə-ˈnā-shən 

1

a

: the act of predestining

b

: the state of being predestined

2

: the doctrine that God has predestined some persons to eternal happiness and others to eternal punishment