prophecy and prophesy - the difference

by Craig Shrives
The Quick Answer
A prophecy is knowledge of the future (from a divine source).
To prophesy means to predict the future (with divine inspiration).
Got it? Take a quick test.

Prophecy

The word prophecy is a noun. (The last syllable of prophecy is pronounced sea.) A prophecy is knowledge of the future - usually said to have come from a divine source.

Examples:
  • On the second day of the course, we will study the prophecies of Nostradamus.
  • The prophet has revealed his latest prophecy in which three cities are razed to the ground.

Prophesy

The word prophesy is a verb. (The last syllable of prophesy is pronounced sigh.) To prophesy means to predict the future - usually with divine inspiration.

Examples:
  • He prophesies a great war between East and West.
  • He prophesied that a flood would cover the Earth.
    • (This is an example of to prophesy in the past tense.)
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

Help Us To Improve Grammar Monster

  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.

See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose?
What are nouns? What are verbs? List of easily confused words