Harbinger

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