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oracle

noun
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or·​a·​cle | \ ˈȯr-ə-kəl How to pronounce oracle (audio) , ˈär- \

Definition of oracle

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a person (such as a priestess of ancient Greece) through whom a deity is believed to speak the prophecies of the Delphic oracle— D. F. Marks
b : a shrine in which a deity reveals hidden knowledge or the divine purpose through such a person
c : an answer or decision given by an oracle ambiguous oracles
2a : a person giving wise or authoritative decisions or opinions She became an oracle of pop culture.
b : an authoritative or wise expression or answer

Oracle

geographical name
Or·​a·​cle | \ ˈȯr-ə-kəl How to pronounce Oracle (audio) , ˈär- \

Definition of Oracle (Entry 2 of 2)

unincorporated settlement north-northeast of Tucson in southern Arizona population 3686; site of a biome research facility

Examples of oracle in a Sentence

Noun I met her long before she had become the oracle of pop culture.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In 1533, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro ordered his followers to knock the oracle from its pedestal in front of horrified onlookers. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "X-rays reveal the faded colors of a 1,300-year-old Inca idol," 17 Jan. 2020 Then Democrats will write articles of impeachment that track this testimony, contending that the existence of high crimes and misdemeanors is self-evident — after all, the Con-Law oracles have spoken. — Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "The Impeachment Eye Test," 7 Dec. 2019 People journeyed from all over the Andes to consult the statue, believed to be an important oracle of the Inca gods, leaving behind offerings of gold, silver, and valuable fabrics. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "X-rays reveal the faded colors of a 1,300-year-old Inca idol," 17 Jan. 2020 He is treated as an oracle by wannabe cryptocurrency moguls who mob him in public. — Rob Copeland, WSJ, "Olaf Carlson-Wee Rode the Bitcoin Boom to Silicon Valley Riches. Can He Survive the Crash?," 11 Sep. 2018 Horvath, a biostatistician at the University of California Los Angeles, wasn’t trying to create a scientific oracle. — Michele Cohen Marill, Wired, "New Tests Use Epigenetics to Guess How Fast You're Aging," 19 Dec. 2019 After that, Joette Shaffer, a spiritual advisor with 22 years of experience reading tarot and oracle cards, sat down with me to dig into my Akashic Records. — Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, "Cassadaga: 24 hours in Florida’s ‘Psychic Capital of the World’," 25 Oct. 2019 Natalie will be remembered as a doting Grandmother and oracle of knowledge. — sun-sentinel.com, "Deaths in South Florida: 11/2," 2 Nov. 2019 Reduced to highlights and stripped of distinction, Percy’s adventures with Furies, oracles, Medusa, Ares and Hades quickly pall. — Jesse Green, New York Times, "Review: ‘The Lightning Thief,’ a Far Cry From Olympus," 16 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oracle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of oracle

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for oracle

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin oraculum, from orare to speak — more at oration

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Time Traveler for oracle

Time Traveler

The first known use of oracle was in the 15th century

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Last Updated

15 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Oracle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oracle. Accessed 18 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for oracle

oracle

noun
How to pronounce Oracle (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of oracle

: a person (such as a priestess) through whom a god was believed to speak
: the place (such as a shrine) where people went to ask questions of an oracle
: an answer or message given by an oracle

See the full definition for oracle in the English Language Learners Dictionary

oracle

noun
or·​a·​cle | \ ˈȯr-ə-kəl How to pronounce oracle (audio) \

Kids Definition of oracle

1 : a person (as a priestess in ancient Greece) through whom a god is believed to speak
2 : the place where a god speaks through a person
3 : an answer given by a person through whom a god speaks

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More from Merriam-Webster on oracle

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for oracle

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with oracle

Spanish Central: Translation of oracle

Nglish: Translation of oracle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of oracle for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oracle

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