auspice

noun

aus·​pice ˈȯ-spəs 

plural auspices ˈȯ-spə-səz 

-ˌsēz

1

auspices plural : kindly patronage and guidance

doing research under the auspices of the local historical society

2

: a prophetic sign

especially : a favorable sign

3

: observation by an augur especially of the flight and feeding of birds to discover omens

Synonyms

• aegis
• egis
• backing
• patronage
• sponsorship

Examples of auspice in a Sentence

a program for inner-city youths that is under the auspices of a national corporation

interpreted the teacher's smile as an auspice that he would get an A on his presentation

Recent Examples on the Web

Campbell—who first played Ash under the auspice of writer-director Raimi and producer Tapert on 1981’s The Evil Dead—said metal music wasn’t the only thing that the general public was paranoid about in the 1980s. —Tim Lammers, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

If the Games were to combine under the auspice of true inclusion, where everyone competes together side by side, Paralympic swimmers would struggle to make it through the heat rounds, and basketball would be impossible. —Jessica Smith, TIME, 29 July 2024

As part of the pact, the streamer and studio will finance and release movies from Stuber’s new production company under United Artists, a languishing label that once operated under the auspice of MGM. —Brent Lang, Variety, 26 July 2024

Instead, it was contested under auspice of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024

Armani also reportedly set up a small charitable foundation in 2016 under the auspice of developing it with capital from the company following his passing. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 15 Nov. 2023

However, there is no context that validates the use of this term in relation to progress without disregarding the brutal reality of what happened in this country’s history under the auspice of Manifest Destiny. —Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2018

The funds were raised under the auspice of Tulane's $1.3 billion fundraising campaign. . . . . . . . —Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, NOLA.com, 16 Jan. 2018

Scientists have been fascinated by this work because this phenomenon was predicted a century ago under the auspice of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. —Diana Samuels, NOLA.com, 22 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Latin auspicium "augury from the behavior of birds, leadership, authority," from auspic-, auspex "augur taking omens from birds (from avis "bird" + -spic-, -spex, derivative of specere "to see, observe") + -ium, deverbal suffix of function or state — more at aviary, spy entry 1

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

auspice

noun

aus·​pice ˈȯ-spəs 

plural auspices -spə-səz 

-ˌsēz

1

: predicting the future especially according to the flight of birds

2

: omen

especially : a favorable sign

3

plural : support and guidance of a sponsor

a concert given under the auspices of the school

Etymology

from Latin auspicium "auspice," derived from avis "bird" and specere "to look at" — related to aviary, expect, spectacle