Meaning & use

harbinger

noun·Advanced

A person or thing that signals the approach of something else, often before it fully arrives.

See it in a sentence

The first robin of spring is often seen as a harbinger of warmer weather.

Rising bond yields can be a harbinger of trouble in the stock market.

A note on using this word

Harbinger is typically followed by "of," as in "a harbinger of change," and often carries an ominous tone.

Words with a similar meaning

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