horoscope
Americannoun
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a diagram of the heavens, showing the relative position of planets and the signs of the zodiac, for use in calculating births, foretelling events in a person's life, etc.
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a prediction of future events or advice for future behavior based on such a diagram.
noun
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the prediction of a person's future based on a comparison of the zodiacal data for the time of birth with the data from the period under consideration
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the configuration of the planets, the sun, and the moon in the sky at a particular moment
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Also called: chart. a diagram showing the positions of the planets, sun, moon, etc, at a particular time and place
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of horoscope
before 1050; Middle English, Old English horoscopus < Latin < Greek hōroskópos, equivalent to hōro-, combining form of hṓra hour + skópos -scope
Compare meaning
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Explanation
You can usually read your daily horoscope in the local newspaper. A horoscope is a forecast of your future based on the month in which you were born. Some people believe that a horoscope is a real way to divine the future; they think that traits and circumstances are determined from the position of the planets at the exact moment of a person's birth. Others enjoy reading their horoscopes just for fun. The word horoscope has a Greek root, hōroskopos, combining hōra, "time or hour," and skopos, "observer or watching." A horoscope, in other words, is something that watches the hour of one's birth.
Vocabulary lists containing horoscope
Power Suffix: -scope
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: scope
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-scope
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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.
That said, I don’t believe in astrology, but I still take a peek at my horoscope every now and then.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
In the course of his travels, he heard John Calvin speak, had his horoscope read by Nostradamus and witnessed the French dauphin toss a small dog out of a high window.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Many critics noted that their work suffered from selection bias and determinism; a 1991 Newsweek article described it as “an elaborate historical horoscope that will never withstand scholarly scrutiny.”
From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025
"I am a horse on my horoscope so I don't know if that has any correlation."
From BBC • Aug. 24, 2025
He knew Kepler from his time in Prague, when he had cast a horoscope which, in the eyes of the Duke, was remarkably accurate in its prophecies.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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.
