oracle

noun

or·​a·​cle ˈȯr-ə-kəl 

ˈär-

1

a

: a person (such as a priestess of ancient Greece) through whom a deity is believed to speak

the prophecies of the Delphic oracle

—D. F. Marks

b

: a shrine in which a deity reveals hidden knowledge or the divine purpose through such a person

c

: an answer or decision given by an oracle

ambiguous oracles

2

a

: a person giving wise or authoritative decisions or opinions

She became an oracle of pop culture.

b

: an authoritative or wise expression or answer

Examples of oracle in a Sentence

I met her long before she had become the oracle of pop culture.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though the oracle also claims to boast connections to Pythagoras and Alexander the Great, Beard deems this implausible. —Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

Jack Leach returns as the bespectacled oracle after a year of injury woes while his county colleague Shoaib Bashir, who made a debut against India in February, has become the number one pick. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

The semi-reclusive mogul is probably the closest thing the media business has to an oracle. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2024

Unlikely oracle for the Fox News crowd Pete Buttigieg, 42, has proven himself as the one Democrat who can go on Fox News and effectively score political points with the network’s conservative audience. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin oraculum, from orare to speak — more at oration

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

oracle

noun

or·​a·​cle ˈȯr-ə-kəl 

ˈär-

1

: a person (as a priestess of ancient Greece) through whom a god is believed to speak

2

: the place where a god speaks through an oracle

3

: an answer given by an oracle

4

: a person giving wise or final decisions or advice

Etymology

Middle English oracle "a person through whom a god speaks," from early French oracle (same meaning), from Latin oraculum (same meaning), from orare "to speak, pray" — related to adore, oration

Geographical Definition

Oracle

geographical name

Or·​a·​cle ˈȯr-ə-kəl 

ˈär-

unincorporated settlement north-northeast of Tucson in southern Arizona population 3686; site of a biome research facility