pendant

noun pen·dant \ ˈpen-dənt ; senses 3 & 4 are also ˈpe-nənt , sense 5 is also päⁿ-ˈdäⁿ \

variants: or less commonly pendent

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of pendant

1 : something suspended: such as

a : an ornament (as on a necklace) allowed to hang free

A turquoise pendant hung on her necklace.

b : an electrical fixture suspended from the ceiling

hung an incandescent light pendant from the ceiling over the reading area

2 : a hanging ornament of roofs or ceilings much used in the later styles of Gothic architecture

3 : a length of line usually used as a connector on a boat or ship; especially : a short rope hanging from a spar and having at its free end a block or spliced thimble (see thimble 2a)

4 chiefly British : pennant 1a

5 a : companion piece

The portrait of his father is a pendant to the one of his mother.

b : something secondary or supplementary

The illustration is an apt pendant to the poem.

See pendant defined for English-language learners

See pendant defined for kids

Examples of pendant in a Sentence

Navajo necklaces with pendants finely crafted in genuine sky-blue turquoise.
a pendant that once flew on Nelson's flagship

Recent Examples of pendant from the Web

The bar became Mistral a few months ago, after theater co-owners Lee Barczak and Jane Schilz turned the intimate dining room (just 30 seats) into a little jewel box, with touches like pendant lights that suggest Morocco.

— carol deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Flavors of France, Spain and beyond mingle at Mistral in Milwaukee," 3 Apr. 2018
The right hand of the referee was hanging pendant by her side, pacing off the five-second count, currently holding out four fingers.

— ben baskin, SI.com, "Arike Ogunbowale Gives Notre Dame a Star, a Shot and a Season to Cherish," 2 Apr. 2018
The result is a visually stunning mash-up of styles, from the concrete reception desk in the polished marble lobby to the grand central staircase with ornate moldings and a glittering cascade of pendant lamps.

— New York Times, "At a Copenhagen Hotel, Scandinavian Style and Seasonal Seafood," 9 Mar. 2018
The invitations also feature a necklace with a skateboard pendant on them. 3.

— alex rees, Cosmopolitan, "13 Important Moments From Teyana Taylor's Truly Magnificent My Super Sweet 16," 29 Aug. 2016
The Worlds Away floral pendant light, made from capiz shells, has a quiet femininity and provides a burst of color against the ceiling.

— marni elyse katz, BostonGlobe.com, "Peach walls and pink accents brighten up a girl’s bedroom," 23 Mar. 2018
Price: $7,500 Light The pendant light helps anchor the room along with the rug, Ms. Murray said.

— leigh kamping-carder, WSJ, "Midcentury But Not Kitschy: A Living Room Update," 19 Mar. 2018
Some easy, inexpensive ways to incorporate this look are through a pendant light, a serving platter or wall art.

— denise florez, latimes.com, "Refresh the look of your kitchen with a few earth-friendly touches," 19 Mar. 2018
Elaborate pendants feature prominently in the 2014 residence, illuminating a space that merges New Orleans influence with contemporary style.

— darla guillen, Houston Chronicle, "West Houston house is the priciest rental in town at $18,000 per month," 8 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pendant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Most pendants are purely decorative. But a pendant may also hold a picture or a lock of hair of a lover or a child. And, perhaps because they hang protectively in front of the body and near the heart, pendants have often had symbolic and magical purposes. Thus, a pendant may be a charm or amulet, or its gems or metals may be felt to have health-giving properties. In architecture, a pendant is an ornament that hangs down from a structure, but unlike a necklace pendant it's usually solid and inflexible.

Origin and Etymology of pendant

Middle English pendaunt, from Anglo-French pendant, from present participle of pendre to hang, from Vulgar Latin *pendere, from Latin pendēre; akin to Latin pendere to weigh, estimate, pay, pondus weight

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

pendant Synonyms

Synonyms

bangle, charm;

Related Words

locket, teardrop;

Other Jewelry Terms

bijou, brilliant, chase, facet, lapidary, paste

PENDANT Defined for English Language Learners

pendant

noun

Definition of pendant for English Language Learners

: a piece of jewelry that hangs on a chain or a cord which is worn around your neck

PENDANT Defined for Kids

pendant

noun pen·dant \ ˈpen-dənt \

Definition of pendant for Students

: a piece of jewelry hanging on a chain or cord that is worn around the neck

Word Root of pendant

The Latin word pendere, meaning “to cause to hang down,” gives us the root pend. Words from the Latin pendere have something to do with hanging. To suspend is to cause something to hang down from a single point. To depend is to hang, or rely, on the support of others. A pendant is an ornament that hangs free, as on a necklace. A pendulum is an object hung from a point that swings freely back and forth, as in a clock.