omen
Americannoun
-
anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the future; portent.
- Synonyms:
- foreboding, augury
-
a prognostic.
-
prophetic significance; presage.
a bird of ill omen.
verb (used with object)
-
to be an omen of; portend.
-
to divine, as if from omens.
noun
-
a phenomenon or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster
-
prophetic significance
verb
Synonym Usage
See sign.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of omen
First recorded in 1575–85, omen is from the Latin word ōmen
Explanation
An omen is an event or happening that you take as sign of something to come. It’s believed to be a bad omen if a black cat crosses your path or if it rains on your wedding day. Omens generally get a bad rap — that's probably because a lot of them predict bad stuff, at least according to superstition. But the interpretation of omens really depends on the country and culture. What's considered an ominous sign in one place might mean a lifetime of good luck somewhere else. Oscar Wilde once wrote that, “There is no such thing as an omen. Destiny does not send us heralds. She is too wise or too cruel for that.”
Vocabulary lists containing omen
Friday the 13th
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The Alchemist
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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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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.
She’s just frustrated that the weather isn’t cooperating with her upcoming outdoor performance and agitated that this might be a bad omen for her big American comeback.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026
Analysts said the reception to SpaceX was a good omen for two major artificial-intelligence IPOs expected later this year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026
For Nikki Smith from Keith, a lost suitcase has been an unlucky start to the trip, but is not a bad omen for Saturday.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
An omen among omens: Mid-dog-walk that day, I spot a onesie that reads “Milk Drunk” and shudder at the impulse to recruit our newborns into low-key bacchanalia.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
With All Hallows’ Eve only two days away, the omen and the arrival of the badger could certainly be connected.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
