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

Investors now worry that Milei’s defeat is a bad omen for the crucial legislative elections in October, a contest that could potentially derail his free-market economic reforms. —Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025

In the final novel of the series, The Last Battle, the destruction of trees and dryads in Lantern Waste, a place tied to the creation of Narnia itself, is one of many portentous omens signalling the end of the world. —Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025

The village has since fallen on hard times, and its resident see the boat’s return as an omen that their fortunes could be about to turn. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025

Then again, Greene’s RBI milestone may not be a great omen for the Tigers’ World Series chances. —Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 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