omen

American  

[oh-muhn] / ˈoʊ mən /

noun

• omens
  plural

1. 

   anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the future; portent.

   Synonyms:

   foreboding, augury

2. a prognostic.

3. prophetic significance; presage.

   a bird of ill omen.

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verb (used with object)

1. to be an omen of; portend.

2. to divine, as if from omens.

omen British  

/ ˈəʊmən /

noun

1. a phenomenon or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster

2. prophetic significance

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verb

1. (tr) to portend

Synonym Usage

See sign.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unomened
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• omens
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of omen

First recorded in 1575–85, omen is from the Latin word ōmen

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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.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

omen omens

This recent divergence certainly appears to be a very positive omen, as you can see from the accompanying chart.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

The appearance in the sky of Halley's Comet, which is only visible from Earth roughly every 75 years, is regarded as a bad omen following Harold's alleged betrayal.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Sven Marquardt, a Berlin photographer and Berghain’s most famous bouncer, was sitting in front of me, which I took as an incredibly good omen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

Against the bullish backdrop, the IPO could turn out to be fortuitous, or an omen.

From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 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

There are bad omens for future tax policy, too.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 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

While 57 places separate the teams, the omens are good for Conor Hourihane's side.

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026

The people of r/Superstonk are dogmatic, unforgiving of alternative views, indulgent of auguries and omens, simultaneously convinced of their righteousness yet constantly fretting about their opponents’ vast and mysterious powers to undermine them.

From Slate ● Oct. 10, 2024

Cluny had never been one to put his faith in omens, but this dream...it had been so lifelike and vivid that he shuddered.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

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Related Words

• harbinger
• indication
• portent
• premonition

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