What does auspice mean?
Auspice is a noun with two distinct meanings. In modern English it survives almost entirely in its plural form, where 'the auspices of' denotes the protection, patronage, or sponsorship of a person or institution: a project undertaken 'under the auspices of' an organization carries that body's authority and backing. The word carries a formal, official register, making it common in academic, diplomatic, and institutional writing. Its older sense — a singular auspice as an omen or prophetic sign, particularly one drawn from the observation of birds in ancient Rome — survives mainly in historical and literary contexts. This avian origin is no accident: auspice derives from the Latin auspicium, formed from avis (bird) and specere (to look), literally 'bird-watching', because Roman augurs interpreted the flight patterns of birds to divine whether an undertaking would succeed. The adjective auspicious, meaning favorable or promising, shares this root and remains in everyday use.
nounAuspice refers to a divine or prophetic sign, especially in ancient Rome, or — far more commonly today, in its plural form 'auspices' — to the protection, patronage, or support of a person or organization under which something is done.
- (in plural: auspices) The protection, support, or patronage of a person or organization under which something is carried out.
- (usually singular) An omen or sign, especially one derived from observing birds in ancient Roman divination.
"The festival was held under the auspices of the city's arts council."
"The conference was organized under the auspices of the United Nations."
"The augur read the auspices before the army crossed the river."
The plural 'auspices' is the standard modern form and typically appears only in the phrase 'under the auspices of'.
"The tournament ran under the auspices of the international federation."
Before it meant anything about sponsorship, 'auspice' literally meant bird-watching — Roman priests predicted the future by studying the flight of birds.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of auspice
Auspice comes from the Latin auspicium, meaning divination from birds, itself derived from avis (bird) plus specere (to look at). In ancient Rome, augurs observed the flights and calls of birds to interpret the will of the gods before important decisions. English borrowed the term in the early seventeenth century, initially retaining the sense of an omen, but the meaning gradually shifted toward the protective authority implied when a venture proceeds with favorable signs — hence the modern sense of patronage or sponsorship. The adjective auspicious descends from the same Latin root, as do related forms like inauspicious.
Related word forms
How auspice is actually used
In modern usage the word appears almost exclusively in the plural as 'under the auspices of', a formal phrase indicating institutional sponsorship. The singular, referring to omens, is largely historical or literary. Register is formal.
Easily confused with auspice
Auspicious is an adjective meaning promising success or favorable; auspice is a noun meaning patronage or a divinatory sign.