1
a
: a distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source
The place had an aura of mystery.
b
: a subtle sensory stimulus (such as an aroma)
2
medical
: a subjective (see subjective entry 1 sense 4b) sensation (as of voices, colored lights, or crawling and numbness) experienced at the onset of a neurological condition and especially a migraine or epileptic seizure
3
: an energy field that is held to emanate from a living being
4
: a luminous radiation : nimbus
Did you know?
Slang Meaning of Aura
Aura also is used to mean “stylishness” or “confident and suave excellence.” Learn more >
Examples of aura in a Sentence
the monastery perched high on a mountaintop had an aura of unreality and mystery about it
alternative medical treatments that rely on the practitioner's ability to detect a patient's aura
Recent Examples on the Web
This season’s cast includes a professional bull rider, event curator, marketing manager, AI consultant, aura painter, attorney and a dungeon master, among others.
—
Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
Neeson’s surly, simmering kettle-of-violence aura throws things off a bit.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
Various rumors about the college add to its aura of exclusivity.
—Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
Second, the matte cream blush melts into the skin to create an aura of effortlessness and a natural-looking flush.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for aura
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
Neeson’s surly, simmering kettle-of-violence aura throws things off a bit.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
Various rumors about the college add to its aura of exclusivity.
—Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
Second, the matte cream blush melts into the skin to create an aura of effortlessness and a natural-looking flush.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for aura
Cite this Entry
“Aura.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aura. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aura
noun
au·ra
ˈȯr-ə 
: a special quality or impression associated with something
an aura of mystery
Medical Definition
aura
noun
au·ra
ˈȯr-ə
plural auras also aurae
-ē
: a subjective sensation (as of voices or colored lights or crawling and numbness) experienced at the onset of a neurological condition and especially a migraine or epileptic seizure
About 20 percent of migraine sufferers experience an aura as the first symptom of an attack. The aura may be a pulsing star of light, or a dance of geometric forms across the visual field, sometimes turning into hallucinations …—Natalie Angier, The New York Times
Natalie Angier, The New York TimesThe migraine aura, which consists of episodes of well-defined, transient, focal neurologic dysfunction, develops over the course of more than 4 minutes and usually lasts no more than 60 minutes.—Sid Gilman, The New England Journal of Medicine
Sid Gilman, The New England Journal of MedicineThe aura is due to electrical activity originating from the seizure focus and thus represents the earliest manifestations of a partial seizure.—Gary L. Westbrook, in Principles of Neural Science, 4th edition
Gary L. Westbrook, in Principles of Neural Science, 4th editionLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share