omen

noun

ˈō-mən 

: an occurrence or phenomenon (see phenomenon sense 1) believed to portend a future event : augury

The dark clouds were considered a bad omen.

Synonyms

• portent
• forerunner
• prediction
• augury
• foreshadowing
• precursor
• presage
• hint
• suggestion
• foreboding
• herald

Examples of omen in a Sentence

They regarded the win as a good omen for the team.

omens of things to come

Recent Examples on the Web

His playing has now come to be an omen of danger, so visitors who hear drums playing should be wary. —Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025

The Heat hopes this winless preseason isn’t a bad omen for what’s ahead this time around. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025

Aranda’s spectacular 2021 season appears not an omen for Baylor football but rather one of those magical one-off years. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025

It was followed by a celebration on the terrace of Galeries Lafayette, Mumbai — interrupted briefly by a rain shower — which many from the team hailed as an omen of good luck. —Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin omin-, omen

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for omen

• bowman
• bowmen
• coman
• foeman
• foemen
• gnomon
• nomen
• roman
• showman
• showmen
• soman
• toman

Kids Definition

omen

noun

ˈō-mən 

: a happening believed to be a sign or warning of some future event