pendulum

noun

pen·​du·​lum ˈpen-jə-ləm 

ˈpen-dyə-, 

-də-

1

: a body suspended from a fixed point so as to swing freely to and fro under the action of gravity and commonly used to regulate movements (as of clockwork)

2

: something (such as a state of affairs) that alternates between opposites

doesn't take much to swing the pendulum of opinion the other way

Examples of pendulum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pendulum has officially swung back to oversized sunglasses. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2026

The ride swings like a pendulum, repeatedly turning thrill-seekers upside down while its passenger compartment spins. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

And the pendulum has swung on hormone therapy; medical groups now recommend it again for many patients, after years of cautioning against it. — Mara Gordon, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026

As supply chains stabilized, however, the pendulum swung the other way, and many businesses were left with too much inventory on hand. — Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, noun derivative from neuter of Latin pendulus pendulous

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pendulum

• Foucault pendulum

Kids Definition

pendulum

noun

pen·​du·​lum ˈpen-jə-ləm 

: a body hung from a fixed point so as to swing freely back and forth under the action of gravity

Etymology

from scientific Latin pendulum "something suspended so as to swing freely," from Latin pendulus "suspended," from pendēre "to hang" — related to depend, perpendicular