barometer

noun

ba·​rom·​e·​ter bə-ˈrä-mə-tər 

1

: an instrument for determining the pressure of the atmosphere and hence for assisting in forecasting weather and for determining altitude (see altitude sense 1a)

2

: something that indicates fluctuations (as in public opinion)

housing sales and other economic barometers

3

: standard, test

a barometer to measure high school talent

—Jeff Fellenzer

barometric

ˌber-ə-ˈme-trik 

ˌba-rə-

adjective

barometrically

ˌber-ə-ˈme-tri-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

barometry

bə-ˈrä-mə-trē 

noun

Did you know?

When did barometer become figurative?

Originally, barometer referred to an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure. Although this meaning is still very much in use, the word has taken on a strongly figurative sense denoting something that signals changes in conditions not necessarily related to the weather. This extended use of barometer has existed since at least the early 18th century, when Isaac Bickerstaff used it in an article in The Tatler: “I have an Engine in my Study, which is a Sort of a Political Barometer, or, to speak more intelligibly, a State Weather-Glass.”

Synonyms

• criterion
• standard
• benchmark
• measure

Examples of barometer in a Sentence

a legendary Broadway flop that has subsequently become the barometer by which failure in the theater is judged

Recent Examples on the Web

Oil has been a barometer for measuring the risk of the Israel-Iran conflict. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 24 June 2025

The secondary market – a barometer of broader investor appetite – now sees more sellers than buyers. —Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 23 June 2025

Democrats are counting on tonight’s primaries for lieutenant governor and attorney general to act as a barometer for voter enthusiasm ahead of November’s elections. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 17 June 2025

And that was a pretty good barometer for getting an interesting story that was likely to still be topical in a year. —Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

baro- + -meter

Note: The word was probably introduced by Robert boyle. It occurs in his New Experiments and Observations Touching Cold (London, 1665), p. 27: "… consulting the Barometer (if to avoid Circumlocutions I may so call the whole Instrument wherein a Mercurial Cylinder of 29 or 30 Inches is kept suspended after the manner of the Torricellian Experiment) I found the Quicksilver lower then [sic] it had been a great while." Boyle also employed the word baroscope for the instrument.

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for barometer

• bolometer
• chronometer
• geometer
• hydrometer
• hygrometer
• kilometer
• micrometer
• odometer
• photometer
• psychrometer
• pycnometer
• pyrometer

Kids Definition

barometer

noun

ba·​rom·​e·​ter bə-ˈräm-ət-ər 

: an instrument that measures the pressure of the atmosphere to determine probable weather changes

barometric

ˌbar-ə-ˈme-trik 

adjective