predestination

UK: /ˌpriːdɛstɪˈneɪʃ^ən/

US: /prɪˌdɛstəˈneɪʃən, ˌpridɛs-/

US: (pri des′tə nā′shən, prē′des-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•des•ti•na•tion /prɪˌdɛstəˈneɪʃən, ˌpridɛs-/   n. [uncountable]

1. Religion the belief that God has already decided whatever comes to pass, esp. salvation or damnation, and that humans can do nothing to change these results.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•des•ti•na•tion  (pri des′tə nā′shən, prē′des-), n. 

1. an act of predestinating or predestining.
2. the state of being predestinated or predestined.
3. fate;
   destiny.
4. Religion [Theol.]
   • the action of God in foreordaining from eternity whatever comes to pass.
   • the decree of God by which certain souls are foreordained to salvation. Cf. election (def. 4), double predestination. 

• Late Latin praedestinātiōn- (stem of praedestinātiō). See predestinate, -ion
• Middle English predestinacioun 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

predestination / priːˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən/ noun

1. the act of God foreordaining every event from eternity
2. the doctrine or belief, esp associated with Calvin, that the final salvation of some of humankind is foreordained from eternity by God
3. the act of predestining or the state of being predestined