augury

American  

[aw-gyuh-ree] / ˈɔ gyə ri /

noun

plural

auguries

1. the art or practice of an augur; divination.

2. the rite or ceremony of an augur.

3. an omen, token, or indication.

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augury British  

/ ˈɔːɡjʊrɪ /

noun

1. the art of or a rite conducted by an augur

2. a sign or portent; omen

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Usage

What does augury mean? Augury is the practice of auguring—attempting to predict the future based on interpreting omens or in some other mystical way. The word augur can also be used as a noun to refer to a kind of prophet, oracle, or soothsayer—a person who is said to be able to predict the future by using some mystical ability or means. Augury can refer to the practice of such an augur or to a specific ceremony or rite used by an augur. Augur can also be used in a more specific way to refer to an Ancient Roman official who acted as soothsayer or priest. Such augurs were responsible for augury that involved interpreting omens to guide decisions. Roman lawmakers would consult augurs before officially taking a position. Augury can also be used to refer to an omen, sign, or indication of something, as in Red skies in the morning are known to sailors as an augury of bad weather. Example: Regardless of what form of augury they claim to use, no one can truly predict the future.

Other Word Forms

• augural adjective

Etymology

Origin of augury

1325–75; Middle English < Latin augurium soothsaying, equivalent to augur augur ¹ + -ium -ium

Explanation

An augury is a sign of things to come, like an omen. If you’re superstitious, you might think that seeing a black cat is an augury of bad luck. The word augury used to refer to a way of predicting the future by watching birds fly. These days, if a flock of birds flies over your car, that could simply be an augury that your car is going to be, um, decorated. Not every augury is an ill omen, but usually an augury is a sign that the future will be none too rosy. Auguries are signs of what's to come, and it's wise not to ignore them.

Example Sentences

Standard analysis divined from the usual awards season augury into the mix skews in favor of Anderson and “One Battle,” too.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

“My life and myself were born under the sea,” she wrote, under the augury of “the star of Aphrodite.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2023

A few Los Reyes voters saw it as an augury for the presidency in 2024, when Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is favored by many to succeed Lopez Obrador.

From Reuters • May 29, 2023

Williams sometimes wondered in interviews if that humiliating experience might have been a backhanded augury of her future.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 15, 2023

Yet landbirds flying from starboard crossed his bow— a lucky augury.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer