soothsayer
Americannoun
-
soothsayers
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of soothsayer
First recorded in 1300–50, soothsayer is from the Middle English word sothseyere, sothseyer. See sooth, say 1, -er 1
Explanation
A soothsayer is someone who can foretell the future. If the convincing soothsayer at the state fair tells you you'll soon meet someone tall, dark, and handsome, you'll probably keep your eye out for someone who fits that description. A fortune teller is also known as a soothsayer, or someone who claims to be able to predict the future. Long ago, a soothsayer might have been considered a useful consultant, even for a government, but today soothsayers are more likely to be scoffed at. Still, there are many soothsayers who have successful businesses telling people's fortunes and giving advice. Soothsayer comes from the Old English word for "truth," combined with "say," together meaning "an act of speaking the truth."
Vocabulary lists containing soothsayer
Julius Caesar
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The Westing Game
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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.
See Examples For:
Aschenbrenner built his firm on his reputation as an AI soothsayer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
A few days ago he posted a video with a woman who fashioned herself as a soothsayer.
From Slate ● Feb. 23, 2026
But, the "You Must Remember This" host, who has guided listeners through Hollywood's first century for over eight years, is more than just a soothsayer of cinema's history.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2023
At the Policing Board meeting, Simon Byrne stressed that he was not "a soothsayer" and the security picture he outlined is rooted firmly in the present.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2022
Once more, Penelope thought of Madame Ionesco’s vision of the wolf babies —but the old soothsayer had said nothing about a tree.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Other black men and women worked as soothsayers, read cards or sold supposedly magical products to curious clients.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
Political soothsayers might be tempted to study the results of Britain’s July 4 general election for clues about how the United States might vote on Nov. 5.
From New York Times ● May 25, 2024
Upon its discovery, soothsayers would’ve been summoned to interpret the meaning and declare whether the sign was sinister or propitious.
From Slate ● Feb. 11, 2024
Divination rituals, for example, were essentially Mesopotamian in origin and included studying the organs of sacrificed animals, consulting female soothsayers, and observing the movement of birds.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
“Yet soothsayers are not always reliable sources of information,” she said at last.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
