1. The belief that God has already decided in advance what will happen to each person, especially regarding their salvation or damnation.
Usage: theology; religious philosophy
2. The action or fact of being destined or determined beforehand; an inevitable outcome.
Usage: general use

Examples

• Many Protestant theologians debated the concept of predestination and human responsibility.
• The doctrine of predestination suggests that God knows all future events.
• Some philosophers reject predestination because it seems to deny human free will.
• In Calvinist theology, predestination is a central belief about salvation.
• The novel explores themes of predestination versus personal choice.
• She felt as though her meeting with him was predestination rather than mere coincidence.