Oracle

Definition

A priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom gods spoke; a person consulted as an authoritative source; any infallible or wise answer.

Beyond the definition

The Oracle at Delphi told Oedipus his fate; told the Athenians to trust their wooden walls; told Croesus that if he attacked Persia, a great empire would be destroyed. It was, of course, his own. Oracles are always right — and always misread. Today the word also names the person everyone turns to as though they have answers they couldn't have: the analyst, the mentor, the guru.

Origin & history

From Latin oraculum 'divine announcement, oracle', from orare 'to pray, speak'. The most famous oracle was the Pythia at Delphi, who inhaled vapours rising from a chasm and delivered cryptic prophecies.

Example sentences

Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.

She had become the oracle of her friend group — everyone's first call when a decision felt too heavy.

The Delphic oracle's most famous instruction was 'Know thyself' — advice attributed to Apollo via the Pythia.

He spoke in pronouncements, as though his opinion were an oracle rather than a preference.

Synonyms

prophet, seer, sage, soothsayer, authority

Antonyms

agnostic, layperson

Related words

• augury
• apocryphal
• arcane

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

Chatting in a busy cafe

An adult chats with a friend in a busy, local café, their expressions genuine, comfortable, and speaking with their hands.

In a casual, everyday sense, the friend acting as a source of wise advice acts as an oracle. They are a trusted, authoritative source whose answers provide clarity and guidance, helping the speaker navigate their personal questions or life’s challenges.

Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration