pendant

noun

Save Word

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

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 And while timeless jewelry pieces like a tennis bracelet, delicate pendant necklace, or cocktail ring can take a bridal look from lovely to extraordinary, earrings always make the most impact without taking away from your wedding look. — Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 May 2022 Pulling the ensemble together with a glamorous stack of chunky necklaces, which included a large gold cross pendant, Hailey understood the assignment with matching lime green nails and even a green drink. — Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 26 Apr. 2022 In 2020 the Chinese fashion retailer Shein, which has gained a massive following in North America, apologized and removed a necklace featuring a swastika pendant from its store, after social media users accused the brand of promoting anti-Semitism. — Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2022 Meghan left her hair down, and wore simple jewelry, including a silver pendant. — ELLE, 17 Apr. 2022 Around her neck was a blingy pendant necklace that likely costs more than a down payment on a car. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2022 An enchanted pact-protecting pendant complicates the showdown anyone can see coming. — Peter Debruge, Variety, 5 Apr. 2022 Both singers arrived at the microphone wearing the same black Versace wrap dress and chunky gold pendant turning to one another in false outrage. — Leah Dolan, CNN, 4 Apr. 2022 The brand’s ceramics grew to include not only cups, but also all manner of tableware and other decorative pieces like pendant lamps, which are now made by some 70 artisans. — New York Times, 9 Mar. 2022 See More

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.