As siblings have said, Prediction is not only about the future. For examples, see ML frameworks (sklearn comes to mind) where the inference method after training a classifier is called ‘predict.’
In science, a ‘prediction’ has special status because it can lend credence to a hypothesis if its implications (predictions) are borne out.
If it’s about the future, the precise verb is ‘forecast.’
In science, a ‘prediction’ has special status because it can lend credence to a hypothesis if its implications (predictions) are borne out.
If it’s about the future, the precise verb is ‘forecast.’