harbinger

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "harbinger" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that foreshadows or portends an event or development. Example sentence: The sudden storm was a harbinger of an approaching hurricane.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This event absolutely is not a harbinger of war, more likely it's a means of political pressure, to threaten war," he said.

The Guardian

According to some reports, he became paranoid and delusional, insisting everything black be removed from his presence and believing the colour was a harbinger of death.

The Guardian - Film

Probably no Conservative could have defeated Labour in that year, but for Heath's enemies, later, that defeat would be seen as a harbinger of worst times to come.

The Guardian

If these two peoples can find common ground to create two states, both democratic and free, after all the bloodshed and dispute of decades, that is a huge harbinger of hope.

The Guardian - Opinion

The "breath of fresh air" school will welcome this as the harbinger of future change.

The Guardian

In a make-or-break week of debt repayments, the politician once seen as the harbinger of Europe's anti-establishment movement has found himself where no other leader would want to be: caught between exasperated creditors abroad and enraged diehards at home.

The Guardian

Investors think the Heinz deal will be a harbinger of consolidation; shares in other American packaged-food makers jumped after the deal was announced.

The Economist

The suggestion by senior Navajos that Mr Deschene's popularity is a harbinger of cultural death probably goes too far.

The Economist

A lack of solidarity Hubris or harbinger?

The Economist

There may not be a more beautiful place on earth.The SkyView Drive-In is both a relic of the past and a harbinger of the future.

The Economist

But the trainers are not a harbinger of weapons to come, says Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.Related topics Kiev Ukraine Russia United StatesSo far America has pledged only non-lethal aid, including armoured humvees and counter-mortar radar systems, and even that has been slow to arrive.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "harbinger", ensure the context clearly establishes what future event is being foreshadowed. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming "harbinger" always implies a negative outcome. It simply indicates something is coming, regardless of whether that thing is good or bad. Be objective with your forecast.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "harbinger" is as a noun, denoting a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to foreshadow events, often with a sense of anticipation or foreboding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "harbinger" functions primarily as a noun, signaling something that precedes or foreshadows a future event. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted in written English. With its high frequency in news, business, and scientific contexts, the register tends to be neutral to formal. When employing "harbinger", clarity is key: ensure the foreshadowed event is evident. While it doesn't inherently suggest negativity, misconceptions about its tone are common. Semantically related terms include “precursor”, “omen” and “forerunner”, each carrying slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

precursor

Indicates something that comes before and influences a later event or development, similar to "harbinger" but more focused on direct influence.

omen

Signifies a phenomenon believed to portend a future event, especially one of great importance; often associated with superstition or folklore, unlike the more neutral "harbinger".

forerunner

Refers to someone or something that precedes and indicates the approach of someone or something else, akin to "harbinger" but often implies a more direct linear progression.

herald

Implies an official announcement or indication of something to come, carrying a sense of formality that "harbinger" may lack.

portent

Suggests a sign or warning of a future event, often with a negative or ominous connotation, which may not always be present in "harbinger".

indication

A sign or piece of information that indicates something, but less strong than "harbinger" which usually carries a tone of foretelling.

premonition

A strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant, more subjective and intuitive than "harbinger".

augury

The practice of interpreting omens to foretell the future, similar to "harbinger" but specifically related to divination or prophecy.

presage

To foreshadow or portend a future event, functioning as a verb form that corresponds to the noun "harbinger".

promise

Suggests a positive expectation for the future, in contrast to "harbinger" which can be neutral or negative.

FAQs

How to use "harbinger" in a sentence?

You can use "harbinger" to describe something that foreshadows a future event, for example: "The economic downturn was a "harbinger" of widespread job losses."

What can I say instead of "harbinger"?

You can use alternatives like "precursor", "omen", or "forerunner" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "harbinger" of or "harbinger" for?

"Harbinger of" is the correct usage. It indicates that something is a sign or indication of something else to come. For example, "The early frost was a "harbinger of" a harsh winter."

What's the difference between "harbinger" and "precursor"?

While both "harbinger" and "precursor" refer to something that comes before, "harbinger" emphasizes foreshadowing or signaling a future event, while "precursor" suggests a direct influence on what follows.