auspice
Americannoun
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auspices
plural
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Usually auspices patronage; support; sponsorship.
under the auspices of the Department of Education.
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Often auspices a favorable sign or propitious circumstance.
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a divination or prognostication, originally from observing birds.
noun
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(usually plural) patronage or guidance (esp in the phrase under the auspices of )
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(often plural) a sign or omen, esp one that is favourable
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of auspice
First recorded in 1525–35; from French, from Latin auspicium “a bird-watching, divination from flight of birds,” equivalent to auspic- (stem of auspex ) + -ium -ium
Explanation
An auspice is a little glimpse of the future, like a sign or omen. If a ladybug lands on your arm, you may see it as an auspice of good luck. The 16th-century definition of auspice was "observation of birds for the purpose of taking omens," from a Latin root with the same meaning. If you see a single crow as an auspice of good fortune, you are literally taking omens from birds! In its plural form, auspices are a kind of guidance or assistance: "She's teaching accordion in my school under the auspices of a state fund for music education."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
People were bemused earlier this year upon learning that former presidential candidate Mitt Romney had a sock puppet account – an account used to big oneself up, under the auspice of being someone else.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 3, 2019
During that time, I felt sort of set free by living under Kelly Reichardt’s auspice.
From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2016
The station has only recently moved into Bauer's London HQ under the auspice of former Top of the Pops executive producer, Ric Blaxill.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 3, 2013
The word auspice, meaning sign or omen, is telescoped from the Latin words avis, bird, and specere, to see.
From Time Magazine Archive
The loftiest light Flashed from God's Face on Reason's orient verge Answers that bird-cry from the Heart of man— Poor Heart that, darkling, kept so long its watch— The auspice of the dawn.
From Legends of the Saxon Saints by Aubrey De Vere
DHS consolidated a whole bunch of agencies under its auspices, from the Coast Guard to Federal Emergency Management Agency, but its most consequential new department was the U.S.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
The memo also says that Iran's enriched uranium will be "down-blended" – meaning diluted – on site, under the auspices of the IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
Most recently, under the auspices of Venetian Heritage, an international foundation that supports conservation, publications and exhibitions, the painting was intensively studied and worked on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
It also pledged their "commitment to working towards achieving our just southern goal through preparations for a comprehensive southern conference under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia".
From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026
Once Cora walked into its influence, the sound of the splashing water dampened the street noise, lifting her into the auspices of the museum.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
