auspice

auspice — noun

1. the official support, protection, or sponsorship provided by an organization, in

1.nounC1
Definition

the official support, protection, or sponsorship provided by an organization, institution, or influential person to help an event, project, or activity take place

Example

The charity concert was organized under the auspices of the United Nations Children's Fund.

under the auspices of + organization

Diya's art exhibition took place under the auspices of the National Cultural Foundation.

Common collocations
  • under the auspices of
Synonyms
  • patronage

    focuses on financial support and backing, often from wealthy individuals or nobles

  • sponsorship

    more commercial and concrete than 'auspices', used for funding in exchange for publicity

  • guidance

    emphasises advice and direction rather than official approval

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

under the auspices of + organization / institution / person

Usage Note

This sense is almost always used in the plural form 'auspices' within the fixed phrase 'under the auspices of'. The singular form 'auspice' for this meaning is very rare and may sound unnatural.

Common Mistakes

The project was done under the auspice of the mayor.
The project was done under the auspices of the mayor.
The plural form 'auspices' is standard; 'auspice' alone is incorrect for this sense.

2. a sign or indication that suggests what will happen in the future, especially on

2.nounC2
Definition

a sign or indication that suggests what will happen in the future, especially one that is read as either promising good fortune or warning of trouble ahead

Example

The Roman general interpreted the eagle's flight as a favorable auspice before the battle.

favorable auspice — common modifier for a good omen

The clearing of the storm was an auspice of good fortune for their voyage.

Common collocations
  • favorable auspice
  • good auspice
  • auspice of
Synonyms
  • omen

    more general and more common than 'auspice'; can be good or bad

  • portent

    more dramatic and often suggests something momentous or threatening

  • sign

    neutral and widely used in both formal and everyday contexts

Grammar Patterns

auspice + of + noun

adjective + auspice

Usage Note

Literary or formal. The adjective 'auspicious' (meaning promising or favorable) is far more common in modern English than the noun 'auspice' in this omen sense.

Common Mistakes

The dark clouds were an auspice that it would rain.
The dark clouds were a sign that it would rain.
For everyday weather predictions, use 'sign' or 'indication' instead of the literary 'auspice'.

3. in ancient Roman religion, the practice of observing birds — their flight patter

3.nounC2
Definition

in ancient Roman religion, the practice of observing birds — their flight patterns, feeding behaviour, and calls — in order to interpret the will of the gods and predict future events

Example

In Rome, augurs read the auspice to learn if the gods approved of a war.

historical context: ancient Roman religious practice

The flight of six ravens was the auspice that made the Senate delay the campaign.

Synonyms
  • augury

    broader term covering all forms of omen-reading in ancient Rome, not limited to birds

  • divination

    the general practice of seeking knowledge of the future through supernatural means

Usage Note

Strictly historical, referring specifically to the ancient Roman practice of augury. For modern fortune-telling, use 'augury' or 'divination' instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe support from an authority, but they differ in flavour and range. 'Auspices' (always plural in this sense) is the most formal and institutional: it appears almost exclusively in the fixed phrase 'under the auspices of', suggesting official approval from a body like a government, foundation, or university. 'Patronage' has an artistic or aristocratic tone — a wealthy patron supports an artist, musician, or writer over time. 'Sponsorship' is more commercial and transactional: a corporation funds an event in exchange for advertising. 'Backing' is the most flexible and informal, usable for financial or moral support from any source. 'Aegis' is the closest synonym to 'auspices' but carries a stronger sense of protection. For example, a museum exhibition might be held 'under the auspices of the city council' (official approval), while the same exhibition could receive 'sponsorship from a local bank' (financial support in return for naming rights).

patronagesponsorship ↗backing ↗aegis

Common collocations

Nouns

  • auspices + of + institution/organization/person

Phrases

  • under the auspices of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'auspicium' (divination by observing birds), which combines 'avis' (bird) and 'specere' (to look at, to observe). In ancient Rome, an 'auspex' was a priest who watched bird behaviour to read the gods' intentions. The word entered English in the 16th century, first carrying the literal bird-observation meaning (sense 3), then developing the more general 'omen' sense (sense 2) and finally the figurative 'patronage' sense (sense 1) — the idea being that a favourable bird sign was the gods' 'sponsorship' of an undertaking.

First known use

1533

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 3