Forecasting
FOR-kast-ing
/ˈfɔːrkæstɪŋ/
The process of predicting future events or trends, especially weather conditions.
While often applied to weather, 'forecasting' can be used in many fields (e.g., economic forecasting, sales forecasting).
The story behind the word. The word 'forecasting' combines the Old English prefix 'fore-', meaning 'before' or 'in front of', with the Old Norse-derived word 'cast', meaning 'to throw'. So, to 'forecast' literally means 'to cast forth' or 'to throw forward' a prediction. This imagery of 'throwing' a guess into the future has been used for centuries, particularly in relation to weather.
Word relationships
- prediction: More general term for stating what will happen; 'forecasting' often implies a scientific or systematic method.
- prognostication: More formal or even archaic, sometimes with a mystical connotation.
Word family
- forecast (noun/verb): A prediction or estimate of future events, especially weather.
- forecaster (noun): A person who predicts future events, especially weather.
Collocations
- weather forecasting
- economic forecasting
- long-range forecasting
- accurate forecasting
Example sentences
- "Improvements in satellite technology and supercomputers have greatly enhanced the accuracy of weather forecasting." A news report on technology.
- "The finance department is forecasting a slight increase in revenue for the next quarter." A business meeting.
Memory hook
Think of 'FORE' (before) and 'CAST' (like casting a fishing line into the future). You're predicting what's 'before' you. Cast before
When not to use
Do not use 'forecasting' to refer to a simple guess; it implies a systematic process of prediction.
Fun facts
- The first daily weather forecasts were published in The Times newspaper in London in 1861.
- Numerical weather prediction, using mathematical models, was first proposed by Lewis Fry Richardson during WWI, though it wasn't practical until the advent of computers.
Related words
Explore more words
forecast, meteorology, projection, Predictive, predict, extrapolate
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