Harbinger
noun /ˈhɑː.bɪn.dʒər/ — A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.
Definition
A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner that indicates what is coming. The harbinger arrives before the main event — carrying its announcement.
Beyond the definition
Some things make excellent harbingers: certain smells, certain changes in the light, certain phrases people use when something has shifted. To read harbingers is a form of wisdom — the ability to hear what hasn't happened yet.
Origin & history
Middle English: 'herberger' (one who provides lodging for an army). From Old French 'herberge' (shelter). The harbinger originally went ahead of the army to arrange lodging — announcing the army's approach by their own arrival.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The robin was a harbinger of spring — not spring itself, but proof it was coming.
The first crack in the ice was a harbinger that things were breaking up.
Every great change sends harbingers ahead of it — signs that the perceptive notice before anyone else.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Harbinger” when the meaning fits your context: A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner that indicates what is coming. The harbinger arrives before the main event — carrying its announcement.
Synonyms
Antonyms
aftermath, consequence
Related words
Harbinger vs sign
A harbinger is a specific precursor that signals the approaching arrival of something major. A sign is a general indicator that may communicate information or a warning.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Capturing Flower in Sunlight
An adult on a balcony catches a single, brilliant beam of sunlight striking a beautiful flower.
The sudden beam of light serves as a harbinger of the change in weather, signaling the break in the clouds and the coming of the sun before the sky has fully cleared.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Harbinger" mean?
Harbinger is noun meaning: A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.. A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner that indicates what is coming. The harbinger arrives before the main event — carrying its announcement.
Where does the word "Harbinger" come from?
Middle English: 'herberger' (one who provides lodging for an army). From Old French 'herberge' (shelter). The harbinger originally went ahead of the army to arrange lodging — announcing the army's approach by their own arrival.