Definition
prophecy
noun
Merriam-Webster
1. an inspired utterance of a prophet
2. the function or vocation of a prophet specifically: the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose
3. a prediction of something to come
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prophecy
Cambridge Dictionary
a statement that says what is going to happen in the future, especially one that is based on what you believe about a particular matter rather than existing facts:
e.g:
- “The minister suggested that the dire prophecies of certain leading environmentalists were somewhat exaggerated.”
- “These doom and gloom prophecies are doing little to help the economy.”
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prophecy
Dictionary.com
- the foretelling or prediction of what is to come.
- something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.
- a divinely inspired utterance or revelation: oracular prophecies.
- the action, function, or faculty of a prophet.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/prophecy
False prophet
A prophet who makes a prophecy that does not come to pass or a person who speaks as if he were a prophet and the prophecy does not come to pass.
This distinction is made because sometimes a person who is not considered to be a prophet makes one prophecy that fails and then is called a “false prophet.” It may not seem fair to brand the person who is new to giving a prophecy and does not even call himself a prophet as if he has been making many prophecies or some prophecies over many years, but it seems this definition has been adopted by some members of the Church. Certainly anyone who calls himself a prophet or does not object to others calling him a prophet, and then makes a false prophecy, cannot effectively object to being called a false prophet. It may also seem unfair that a person or prophet who makes only one false prophecy can get called a false prophet and that label can stick with him for the rest of his life. But there is a strong argument to make the extremely strict basis is biblical. In the Old Testament anyone who gave one false prophecy got the death penalty. It may also seem unfair if a person who made 100 true prophecies and only one false prophecy can get called a false prophet and then treated as if everything they ever prophesied before the false word was also false. But that seems to be the potential collateral damage to a reputation which is difficult to avoid, because usually only a few words are used to describe a prophet or a prophecy: true or false.