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: 16 Aug 2018

Examples: pendant in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

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 retail/wholesale event finds more than 50 juried vendors selling lampworked, vintage, glass, globe, gemstones, ceramic and pearls, as well as charms, pendants and supplies to tie it all together.

— courtney devores, charlotteobserver, "Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | July 13-19," 11 July 2018
Gold pendant jewelry added sophisticated shine and amplified her post-holiday glow.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "Kim Kardashian West’s Summer Date Night Look? Tactical Pants and Heels," 7 July 2018
Pieces of Eight Just off Little Collins Street, this gallery and shop showcases fine and costume jewelry from dozens of up and coming Australian designers — everything from skull pendants to diamond rings.

— sheila marikar, New York Times, "Five Places to Shop in Melbourne," 5 July 2018
The view captures Lucas Oil Stadium, the entrance to Fletcher Place and Pardo’s rainbow pendant lights that hang inside.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "These rooftop bars and restaurants will help you live your best summer," 18 June 2018
In the main living area, teak chairs with rush seats surround an elm dining table, industrial-style stools line the kitchen counter, and clear glass pendants fit in without disappearing.

— marni elyse katz, BostonGlobe.com, "After renting for years on Martha’s Vineyard, building a getaway all their own," 15 June 2018
One pendant/chandelier from Arteriors looks like a dangling cluster of pearly grapes.

— diane cowen, Houston Chronicle, "Arteriors new collection remains current, edgy," 13 June 2018
The goods & materials: Statement necklaces and delicate pendants; funky rings and cuffs; and lightweight earrings.

— linda jerkins, ajc, "Southern Made: 3 artists at 3-day craft show," 7 Mar. 2018
The living room is centered around a small table, built-in shelving, and a series of pendant lights that warm the white cube of a space.

— liz stinson, Curbed, "Sleek apartment makes stellar use of 320 square feet," 6 July 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.