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Prediction vs Retrodiction - What's the difference?

prediction | retrodiction |

As nouns the difference between prediction and retrodiction

is that prediction is a statement of what will happen in the future while retrodiction is a form of "prediction" that deals with the past rather than the future, sometimes useful in testing theories whose actual predictions are too long-term to be of immediate use.

prediction

English

(wikipedia prediction)

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A statement of what will happen in the future.
    • "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." (in translation from Danish)

    Synonyms

    * (statement about the future) forecast, halseny, prognosis, prognostication

    retrodiction

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia retrodiction)
  • A form of "prediction" that deals with the past rather than the future, sometimes useful in testing theories whose actual predictions are too long-term to be of immediate use.

    • Synonyms

    * postdiction