fulcrum

noun

ful·​crum ˈfu̇l-krəm  ˈfəl- 

plural fulcrums or fulcra ˈfu̇l-krə 

ˈfəl-

1

a

: prop

specifically : the support about which a lever turns

… the camera moves on a fixed fulcrum, either horizontally (panning) or vertically (tilting) …

—Gerald Mast

b

: one that supplies capability for action

He is … the reader's eyes and ears and the fulcrum of his judgment …

—Bernard De Voto

2

: a part of an animal that serves as a hinge or support

Did you know?

Fulcrum, which means "bedpost" in Latin, comes from the verb fulcire, which means "to prop." When the word fulcrum was first used in the 17th century, it referred to the point on which a lever or similar device (such as the oar of a boat) is supported. The literal use easily supported figurative use, and it didn't take long for the word to develop a meaning referring to one deemed essential to the function or development of something. Despite fulcrum's multiple senses, the word's meanings have kept a steady theme. In zoology, fulcrum refers to a part of an animal that serves as a hinge or support, such as the joint supporting a bird's wing.

Examples of fulcrum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s quite a leap of faith, given that Mayor Jerry is willing to blow up the beavers’ dam — the ecological fulcrum of the glade — and has installed tall metal trees with speakers that emit an intolerable noise only animals can hear. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026

The result was the Kings having one of the slowest, oldest and least skilled defense corps in the NHL, diluting what had been the core strength of their roster in recent years and the fulcrum of their check-for-chances system. —Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026

But in Chicago, Buzelis is the fulcrum that every step hinges around. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

The fulcrum for both parties’ chaos is Paxton, a polarizing figure whose potential strength among MAGA die-hards has triggered Cornyn’s allies to dump $50 million and counting on ads to prop up the incumbent. —Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin, going back to Latin, "head or back support of a couch," going back to *fulc-crum, from fulcīre "to prop, support" (of uncertain origin) + -crum, variant of -c(u)lum, instrumental suffix, after bases containing an -l- (going back to Indo-European *-tlom)

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

fulcrum

noun

ful·​crum ˈfu̇l-krəm  ˈfəl- 

plural fulcrums or fulcra -krə 

: the support about which a lever turns