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
These games were developed by a special collaboration between scientists and game developers under the auspice of the Royal Society.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 4, 2013
The word auspice, meaning sign or omen, is telescoped from the Latin words avis, bird, and specere, to see.
From Time Magazine Archive
This adventure must be achieved, if at all, auspice Merton.’
From The Disentanglers by Lang, Andrew
"We call on all actors to constructively engage in negotiations under UN auspices."
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Mojica Loaisiga is a special correspondent writing for The Times under the auspices of the International Center for Journalists.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026
The animals cannot be rehomed, explains Mrs Mansfield, with many requiring licences to keep them under the auspices of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025
Though cagey on peace with Israel, Mr. Sharaa is negotiating a security agreement with the Jewish state under Mr. Trump’s auspices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2025
Now even nonviolent law-abiding protests under the auspices of the ANC were illegal.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
