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a legendary Broadway flop that has subsequently become the barometer by which failure in the theater is judged
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barometer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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.”
1632
: an instrument that is used to measure air pressure and predict changes in the weather
: something that is used to indicate or predict something
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for barometer Spanish Central: Translation of barometer Nglish: Translation of barometer for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barometer
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