aegis

noun

ae·​gis ˈē-jəs 

also

ˈā- 

variants or less commonly egis

1

: a shield or breastplate emblematic of majesty that was associated with Zeus and Athena

2

a

: protection

under the aegis of the Constitution

b

: controlling or conditioning (see condition entry 2 sense 5a) influence

passed new laws under the aegis of national security

3

a

: auspices, sponsorship

under the aegis of the museum

b

: control or guidance especially by an individual, group, or system

under the aegis of the government

Did you know?

Aegis Has Greek and Latin Roots

English borrowed aegis from Latin, but the word ultimately comes from the Greek noun aigís, meaning “goatskin.” In ancient Greek mythology, an aegis was something that offered physical protection. It has been depicted in various ways, including as a magical protective cloak made from the skin of the goat that suckled Zeus as an infant, and as a shield fashioned by Hephaestus that bore the severed head of the Gorgon Medusa. The word first entered English in the 15th century as a noun referring to the shield or breastplate associated with Zeus or Athena. It later took on a more general sense of “protection” and, by the late-19th century, it had acquired the extended senses of “auspices” and “sponsorship.”

Synonyms

• ammunition
• armor
• buckler
• cover
• defense
• guard
• protection
• safeguard
• screen
• security
• shield
• wall
• ward

Examples of aegis in a Sentence

having no claim to the land under the aegis of the law, the cattle baron decided to claim it by force

a medical study that was questioned by many because it was done under the aegis of a major pharmaceutical company

Recent Examples on the Web

Under his aegis, A+E was among the first media companies to guarantee business outcomes for advertisers, a concept that has gained more traction in recent years as Madison Avenue tries to harness the interactive nature of streaming video. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Dec. 2024

Once Trump withdraws America’s aegis over these allies, what is to prevent old hostilities from resurfacing, from enmities between Germany and France or Germany and Poland to lingering resentments between the Japanese and Koreans? —Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

Who will be there A number of big names will still join this year’s summit — an event that began back in 1971 under the aegis of Klaus Schwab, who remained executive chairman of the event until the start of this year. —Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2025

Fortunately, the exhibitions presented under the aegis of PST ART, through their rigorous investigation into centuries of cross-pollination between art and science, reveal all that is elided by the ahistorical theme. —Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, borrowed from Greek aigís "goatskin, mantle of Zeus," derivative of aig-, aíx "goat"; akin to Armenian aic "goat" (perhaps going back to Indo-European *h₂eiǵ-ih₂-), and perhaps to Avestan izaēna "of leather"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

aegis

noun

ae·​gis ˈē-jəs 

1

: protection sense 1a, defense

under the aegis of the law

2

: patronage sense 1, sponsorship

under the aegis of the museum