harbinger

[ hahr-bin-jer ]

noun

1. a person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; herald.
2. anything that foreshadows a future event; omen; sign:

   Frost is a harbinger of winter.

   Synonyms: indication, portent, precursor, forerunner, herald

3. a person sent in advance of troops, a royal train, etc., to provide or secure lodgings and other accommodations.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as harbinger to; herald the coming of.

harbinger

/ ˈhɑːbɪndʒə /

noun

1. a person or thing that announces or indicates the approach of something; forerunner
2. obsolete.
   a person sent in advance of a royal party or army to obtain lodgings for them

verb

1. tr to announce the approach or arrival of

Word History and Origins

Origin of harbinger¹

First recorded in 1125–75; late Middle English herbenger, nasalized variant of Middle English herbegere, dissimilated variant of Old French herberg(i)ere “host,” equivalent to herberg(ier) “to shelter” (from Germanic; harbor ) + -iere -er ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of harbinger¹

C12: from Old French herbergere, from herberge lodging, from Old Saxon heriberga; compare Old High German heriberga army shelter; see harry , borough

Example Sentences

Her failure to clearly distinguish herself from the president's policies and establish herself as a harbinger of change, all but set up Trump's likely sweep of the national popular vote.

From Salon

As an undergraduate, he toured with rap superstar Snoop Dogg, a reflection of Washington’s immense musical talent and a harbinger of good things to come.

From Los Angeles Times

Lancaster County should be seen as a harbinger of sorts, he suggested.

From Salon

Like a harbinger of some twisted future, he speaks of a purge—a single, merciless day of reckoning — where lawlessness would be met with brutal reprisal.

From Salon

Her descent into darkness symbolized the harbinger of fall, when crops gradually withered.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• omen
• portent
• precursor

More About Harbinger

What does harbinger mean?

Harbinger most commonly means an omen or a sign of something to come.

Harbinger can also mean a person sent ahead to make people aware that someone else is coming (such as a king) or to make preparations (such as for an army), but these meanings are much less common. Harbinger can also be used as a verb meaning to act as a sign or omen.

Example: These flowers are always the first to bloom, so people consider them harbingers of spring.

Where does harbinger come from?

Harbinger has been used in English since at least the 1100s. It comes from Middle English, from a variant of the Old French herberg(i)ere, which meant “host” and was equivalent to the verb herberg(ier), “to shelter.”

Harbinger was originally used in English to refer to a host or someone who provides lodgings. It came to be used to refer to the person who went in advance of an army to secure lodgings for the soldiers. Eventually, it became synonymous with herald—someone who goes ahead to announce that someone important is coming, like a king or queen. Another word for such a person is forerunner, which can now also be used to mean “omen” or “sign of something to come.” This is the most common meaning of harbinger. A harbinger can be a sign of something positive, as in Robins are a harbinger of springtime, or negative, as in These reports are a harbinger of doom. When applied to a person, harbinger often refers to someone who’s announcing something, especially something that has yet to happen. More rarely, it can be used as a verb, as in His text harbingered their arrival.   

It can be tempting to misspell harbinger as harbringer, since a harbinger usually brings something, such as a warning, but you can remember the correct spelling by keeping the pronunciation in mind: it’s HAR-bin-jer, with the G making a J sound.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for harbinger?

• omen
• portent
• precursor 
• indication
• forerunner
• herald

What are some words that share a root or word element with harbinger? 

 

• harbor

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing harbinger?

 

• sign
• doom
• future
• warning
• spring

How is harbinger used in real life?

Harbinger can be used in many different contexts, but it typically refers to a sign that something is going to happen in the future.

I don’t like sounding like the Harbinger of Doom, but I see it as inevitable that @WonderCon is either postponed or cancelled. I’m seeing way too many events taking this action, and the news I received while at my local VA clinic yesterday wasn’t encouraging.

— Ken Penders (@KenPenders) March 11, 2020

Who’s ready for spring? Many robins remain in northern Illinois year-round, but they are still a harbinger of the most anticipated season of the year. (Photo courtesy of Matt Zuro) pic.twitter.com/OqRBHH6YaW

— WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests) March 4, 2020

Hellebore from the garden…always see it as spring harbinger. Did some research & turns out it has strong links to witchcraft: “used in magic for healing of mental/emotional afflictions; banishing; exorcisms; increasing intelligence; protection & invisibility spells.” #IWD2020 pic.twitter.com/WWXscuPQdi

— Louise Macdonald (@Louisemac) March 8, 2020

 

 

Try using harbinger!

Is harbinger used correctly in the following sentence?

In retrospect, the cancellation of our first contract was a harbinger of failure.