Sign vs. Omen — What's the Difference?

An indicator of a disease or condition.

A phenomenon believed to predict the future.

An object or symbol used to convey information or instructions.

A warning or indication of a future event.

Evidence or indication of something.

A prophetic sign.

A mathematical symbol denoting an operation or relation.

An occurrence or object considered a portent of good or evil.

A gesture used to communicate a specific message.

An auspicious or inauspicious sign based on superstition.

A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms a sign of disease.

An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change. It was commonly believed in ancient times, and still believed by some today, that omens bring divine messages from the gods.These omens include natural phenomena, for example an eclipse, abnormal births of animals (especially humans) and behaviour of the sacrificial lamb on its way to the slaughter.

An object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else

An event regarded as a portent of good or evil

A gesture or action used to convey information or an instruction

A phenomenon supposed to portend good or evil; a prophetic sign.

A notice on public display that gives information or instructions in a written or symbolic form

Prognostication; portent

Each of the twelve equal sections into which the zodiac is divided, named from the constellations formerly situated in each, and associated with successive periods of the year according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic

To be a prophetic sign of; portend.

The positiveness or negativeness of a quantity

Something which portends or is perceived to portend either a good or evil event or circumstance in the future, or which causes a foreboding; a portent or augury.

Write one's name on (a letter, card, document, etc.) to identify oneself as the writer or sender

A thing of prophetic significance.

Use gestures to convey information or instructions

(transitive) To be an omen of.

Indicate with signposts or other markers

(intransitive) To divine or predict from omens.

Mark or consecrate with the sign of the cross

An occurrence supposed to portend, or show the character of, some future event; any indication or action regarded as a foreshowing; a foreboding; a presage; an augury.

Something that suggests the presence or existence of a fact, condition, or quality

To divine or to foreshow by signs or portents; to have omens or premonitions regarding; to predict; to augur; as, to omen ill of an enterprise.

An act or gesture used to convey an idea, a desire, information, or a command

A sign of something about to happen;

Sign language.

Indicate by signs;

A displayed structure bearing lettering or symbols, used to identify or advertise a place of business

A posted notice bearing a designation, direction, or command

A conventional figure or device that stands for a word, phrase, or operation; a symbol, as in mathematics or in musical notation.

Pl. sign An indicator, such as a dropping or footprint, of the trail of an animal

A trace or vestige

A portentous incident or event; a presage

(Medicine) An objective finding, usually detected on physical examination, from a laboratory test, or on an x-ray, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease.

One of the 12 divisions of the zodiac, each named for a constellation and represented by a symbol.

To affix one's signature to

To write (one's signature)

To approve or ratify (a document) by affixing a signature, seal, or other mark

To hire or engage by obtaining a signature on a contract

To relinquish or transfer title to by signature

To provide with a sign or signs

To communicate with a sign or signs

To express (a word or thought, for example) in a sign language

To consecrate with the sign of the cross.

To make a sign or signs; signal.

To communicate in a sign language.

To write one's signature.

A perceptible (e.g. visible) indication.

Physical evidence left by an animal.

A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.

A wonder; miracle; prodigy.

(astrology) An astrological sign.

(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.

A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.

(uncountable) Sign language in general.

A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. sign (semiotics)]].

An omen.

(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.

A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.

To make a mark

To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol.

(transitive) To mark, to put or leave a mark on.

(transitive) To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.

(transitive) More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.

To write (one's name) as a signature.

(intransitive) To write one's signature.

(intransitive) To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.

(transitive) To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.

To make the sign of the cross

(transitive) To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.

(reflexive) To cross oneself.

To indicate

(intransitive) To communicate using a gesture or signal.

(transitive) To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign.

(transitive) To communicate using gestures to (someone).

(intransitive) To use sign language.

(transitive) To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.

To determine the sign of

(transitive) To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.

That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof.

Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument.

Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture.

A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas.

Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.

A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard.

The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.

A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign - (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like.

Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc.

To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.

To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.

To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.

To assign or convey formally; - used with away.

To mark; to make distinguishable.

To be a sign or omen.

To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.

To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.

A perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened);

A public display of a (usually written) message;

Any communication that encodes a message;

Structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted;

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease;

Having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges);

An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come;

A gesture that is part of a sign language

A fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified;

A character indicating a relation between quantities;

Mark with one's signature; write one's name (on);

Approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation;

Be engaged by a written agreement;

Engage by written agreement;

Communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs;

Place signs, as along a road;

Communicate in sign language;

Make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate

Used of the language of the deaf

Signs function by conveying specific messages or instructions through symbols, words, or gestures, relying on a shared understanding of their meanings.

No, omens can be interpreted as either positive or negative depending on the cultural or personal beliefs of the interpreter.

Signs can indicate potential future events based on evidence or direct observation, unlike omens which are interpreted to predict the future.

Omens are not scientifically proven; they are based on superstition, belief systems, or cultural traditions.

Signs provide warnings, directions, and information that help prevent accidents and ensure safety in various environments.

No, the interpretation of omens varies widely across cultures, with different meanings attached to the same phenomena.

Yes, a natural event can serve as a sign if it directly indicates something (e.g., weather changes) and as an omen if interpreted to predict future outcomes.

Signs provide directions and information that help people navigate through spaces, such as roads, buildings, or natural environments.

Yes, in science, signs are used to denote operations, relationships, or to indicate the presence of specific conditions or phenomena.

No, the interpretation of omens is highly subjective and can vary greatly between cultures or individuals.

Yes, in many cultures, animals appearing under certain circumstances are considered omens of future events.

While omens are typically natural or supernatural occurrences, people can interpret or assign omens based on personal or cultural beliefs.

Personal experiences can greatly influence how one interprets omens, with different individuals potentially seeing the same event as having different meanings.

Yes, the significance of omens can evolve with cultural changes and shifting beliefs.

While belief is not necessary for understanding, it influences how individuals interpret and respond to omens.