seer

¹ American  

[see-er, seer] / ˈsi ər, sɪər /

noun

1. a person who sees; see; observer.

2. a person who prophesies future events; prophet.

   Industry seers predicted higher profits.

   Synonyms:

   augur, soothsayer, oracle

3. a person endowed with profound moral and spiritual insight or knowledge; a wise person or sage who possesses intuitive powers.

4. a person who is reputed to have special powers of divination, as a crystal gazer or palmist.

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seer ² American  

[seer, sair] / sɪər, sɛər /

noun

1. ser.

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seer ¹ British  

/ sɪə /

noun

1. a person who can supposedly see into the future; prophet

2. a person who professes supernatural powers

3. a person who sees

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seer ² British  

/ sɪə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of ser

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Other Word Forms

• seeress noun

Etymology

Origin of seer¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see ¹, -er ¹

Origin of seer²

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

As these tone-deaf lines indicate, Flanner was a gifted writer but not a political seer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

The fittingly named act takes a side-long view of the daily grind, with frontman Jake Silvas sounding equal parts carnival barker and seer as he mocks hustle culture, corporate ladders and better living through chemistry.

From Salon • Jun. 28, 2025

A late twist this year saw Francesca become "the seer", a power that enabled her to find out the true status of one other contestant.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2025

“We can get religious knowledge from anyone,” he said in cutting off a seer.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2024

“You ain’t dreaming, Lee, you’re seeing. If I’da known you was a seer, I’da cured you a long while back. Now, you cut it out, you hear?”

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• forecaster
• prophet
• soothsayer