1. The practice of divination by examining the entrails of sacrificed animals, especially the liver, as performed in ancient Rome.
Usage: historical; formal

Examples

• The Roman general consulted haruspication before deciding whether to engage the enemy in battle.
• Haruspication was a common religious practice among the ancient Romans.
• The haruspex performed haruspication by carefully examining the animal's liver for signs and omens.
• Many important political decisions in Rome were influenced by the results of haruspication.
• Modern scholars study haruspication to understand Roman religious beliefs and practices.