bellwether

noun

bell·​weth·​er ˈbel-ˈwe-t͟hər 

-ˌwe-

: one that takes the lead or initiative : leader

also : an indicator of trends

Did you know?

Because it suggests the act of forecasting, one might be inclined to think that bellwether has something to do with weather. But the wether in bellwether has nothing to do with meteorology. Instead, to learn whither wether, we must head to the sheep farm. We usually think of sheep more as followers than leaders, but in a flock one sheep must lead the way. Since long ago, it has been common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This animal was historically called the bellwether, a word formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning “bell”) and wether (a noun that refers to a male sheep, and today specifically to a castrated male sheep). It eventually followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in English in the 15th century and has remained in the language ever since.

Synonyms

• leader
• pacemaker
• pacer
• pacesetter
• trendsetter

Examples of bellwether in a Sentence

She is a bellwether of fashion.

High-tech bellwethers led the decline in the stock market.

a county that is a bellwether in national elections

Recent Examples on the Web

The fast fashion giant has long been viewed as a bellwether IPO candidate (and a controversial one). —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 25 June 2024

It’s been a busy election year in Michigan; the state was a bellwether in previous presidential elections, especially in 2016 and 2020, and will be a key battleground state in 2024 as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are on a collision course for November. —Detroit Free Press, 8 Aug. 2024

Inaugurated in 1973, the Whitney Biennial is considered one of the bellwether exhibitions of contemporary art. —News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2024

Their organizing is especially getting noticed ahead of two crucial bellwether races this November in Central California that could determine which party controls the U.S. House. —Russell Contreras, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bellewether, belleweder "castrated ram with a bell around his neck followed by the other sheep in a flock, leader," from belle bell entry 1 + wether, weder wether

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

bellwether

noun

bell·​weth·​er ˈbel-ˈwet͟h-ər 

-ˌwet͟h-

: someone or something that leads the way or points out a trend

a bellwether of fashion

a county that is a bellwether in national elections

Etymology

from earlier bellwether "leading sheep (or wether) of a flock," from the fact that this sheep wore a bell which told the shepherd where the flock was