Harbinger
Noun
- A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.
- A forerunner of something.
Example Sentences
“Dark clouds gathering over the stadium were a harbinger of the storm that would delay the afternoon doubleheader.”
“The rise in remote work during 2020 proved to be a harbinger of permanent changes in workplace culture.”
“Robins are often considered the harbingers of spring.”
Word Origin
Germanic, mid-16th century
Why this word?
Harbingers are often associated with doom or assumed to be bad omens, but that doesn’t quite fit the definition of the word. Harbingers are simply people or things that announce or signal the approach of another, whether that approach is good or bad. The word “harbinger” comes from the Old Saxon “heriberga,” meaning “shelter for an army, lodging.” “Harbinger” originally denoted a person who provided lodging, then evolved to refer to one who went ahead of an army or a nobleman to find lodgings. The latter usage turned into the current forerunning definition.
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