1. a person who studies changes in society, technology, and politics — both from th
1.nounC1
Definition
a person who studies changes in society, technology, and politics — both from the past and happening now — in order to describe what life might be like in the future
Example
Walid works as a futurologist for a tech firm, studying trends in artificial intelligence.
work as a futurologist + for [organisation]
The government asked futurologists to predict how climate change might affect coastal cities by 2050.
Bao decided to become a futurologist after seeing how past inventions reshaped everyday life.
become a futurologist — career-choice pattern
Nkechi, a futurologist, thinks gene editing will change farming within thirty years.
A futurologist and a futurist both study possible futures, but a futurist is the broader, more common term — often used for speakers, consultants, or authors who talk about what lies ahead. A futurologist sounds more academic and research-focused, analysing past and present data to build predictions. A forecaster works with shorter time frames and specific fields (weather, the economy, elections) rather than long-term social change. For example, a futurologist might write a report on life in 2100, while a forecaster tells you next quarter's sales figures.
From Latin 'futurus' (about to be, going to be) + '-logist' (one who studies a subject). The word was formed in the mid-20th century as the field of futurology emerged as a serious area of research.