Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Harbinger
noun
/ HAR-bin-jer /
Medium
Meaning
A person or thing that signals or announces the approach of another; a forerunner or early indication of something to come.
Origin / Etymology
Old French herbergier (one who provides lodging for an advance party of an army), later evolved to mean a forerunner
Synonyms
Precursor
Herald
Omen
Antonyms
Aftermath
Consequence
Example Sentence
"Rising global food and energy prices in early 2022 proved to be a harbinger of the inflationary wave that forced central banks worldwide, including the RBI, to rapidly raise interest rates."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Use in GS3 Economy answers when identifying early warning signals of inflation, recession, or financial instability. Also useful in GS3 Environment when discussing climate-related indicators. Good vocabulary for analysis-type Mains answers where trend identification is required.
Relevant Subjects