Divination refers to methods of trying to discover the future or hidden knowledge, often by supernaturalBeyond natural laws; involving forces or beings not explained by science. or spiritual means. In some contexts it also means a prophecyA statement about what will happen in the future. or a guess that turns out right because of unusual insightDeep understanding that helps someone notice or judge things accurately. or luck.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌdɪvəˈneɪʃən/
Easy pronunciation: dih-vuh-NAY-shun (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the third syllable, NAY.
Pronounced for the noun meaning supernatural prediction or seeking hidden knowledge.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Divination Meaning
Trying to find out what will happen using spiritual or magical methods.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: The art or practice of telling the future or seeking hidden knowledge by supernatural means.
Example: The villagers turned to divination before making an important decision.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- fortune telling — A direct and common substitute for supernatural prediction.
- soothsaying — A close synonym for predicting the future by supernatural means.
- foretelling — Works in some contexts, though it can be broader than supernatural divination.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Divination
Meaning 2
A message or prediction believed to come from God or a higher power.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A prophecy or prediction said to come from divine inspiration.
Example: The priest’s words were treated as divination by the crowd.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- prophecy — A direct match for a divinely inspired prediction.
Meaning 3
A very good guess that turns out to be right.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A successful guess or conclusion made through unusual insight or good luck.
Example: Her answer was pure divination; she had no way of knowing the result.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Divination Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- fortune telling
- soothsaying
- foretelling
A prophecy or prediction believed to come from divine inspiration
- prophecy
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use divination to mean any kind of prediction, but it usually refers to supernatural or spiritual methods.
- It can also mean a divinely inspired prophecy, which is a different sense from ordinary guessing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does divination mean?
Divination means trying to discover the future or hidden knowledge, usually by supernatural means. It can also mean a prophecy believed to come from divine inspiration.
What are the synonyms of divination?
Common synonyms for the main sense are fortune telling, soothsaying, and sometimes foretelling. For the prophecy sense, prophecy is the best synonym.
Is divination the same as prophecy?
Not always. Prophecy is one specific sense of divination, usually a prediction said to come from divine inspiration.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.