pendant

noun

pen·dant | \ˈpen-dənt;

senses 3 & 4 are also ˈpe-nənt,

sense 5 is also päⁿ-ˈdäⁿ

variants: or less commonly pendent

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 sense 2a)

4 chiefly British : pennant sense 1a

5a : 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.

Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about pendant

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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.

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 on the Web

Another customer designed a golden pendant with her own initial, C, in the center, a pavé horseshoe at the top, and seven birthstones for her family members. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "Foundrae’s New Bespoke Jewelry Allows You to Create Your Own Story With Enamel, Symbols, and Gemstones," 6 Nov. 2018 Thread a turquoise pendant onto the twine and knot on either side. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "How to Make a Moana Costume for Halloween," 1 Aug. 2018 In a new photo shared by Pete on Instagram, Ariana can be seen wearing a gold necklace with a pendant of his late father, Scott’s, FDNY badge. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Pete Davidson Went Off on a Fan Who Said Ariana Grande's Latest Tribute to His Father Was Too Much," 15 July 2018 The Leaf device can be worn as jewelry — a ring or a pendant — and works independently of a phone, which is the first thing perpetrators usually take away during an attack, Mehta said. — Oren Dorell, USA TODAY, "Women's safety XPRIZE goes to small device to solve threat of sexual assault," 7 June 2018 Clogau Gold Welsh jewelry brand Clogau have released a limited-edition Windsor Pearl collection, featuring of stud earrings and a pendant. — Monique Jessen, PEOPLE.com, "Royal Jewelers Celebrate Royal Wedding with Limited-Edition Collections: See the Photos!," 17 May 2018 Lots of interesting light fixtures are woven into the homescape: a black chain-link pendant over the dining table; a rectangular chandelier over the kitchen island; contemporary table lamps; and LED recessed lights. — Catherine Laughlin, Philly.com, "Rowhouse redesigned to complement Brewerytown Garden mural," 2 May 2018 Other prizes include a pendant from Unicorn Jewelry and photo shoot by pageant photographer Rhea Dawn Smith. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "New Miss Rancho Bernardo, Miss Teen RB crowned," 25 Apr. 2018 Last year, Glago gave her a sterling silver pendant in the shape of a kidney to commemorate the anniversary of the transplant surgery. — Maria Clark, NOLA.com, "A six-way kidney swap unites three families," 1 Apr. 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.