pendant

noun

pen·​dant ˈpen-dənt 

senses 3 & 4 are also

ˈpe-nənt 

sense 5 is also

päⁿ-ˈdäⁿ 

variants or less commonly pendent

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

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.

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.

Synonyms

• bangle
• charm
• lavaliere
• lavalliere

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

The Chiefs tight end paired the green set with black sneakers, a gold watch and a pendant. —Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024

The pendant, made from lead and alloy, has a diameter of around 2.8 centimeters and is 1 millimeter thick. —Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2024

Grouping two large pendants offers ample light without cluttering or obstructing views. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024

Sacred geometry pendants sold on the Conscious Life Expo’s convention floor. —Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024

Whaley, who wore a sun and moon pendant and brought a small mirror to view the eclipse, looked into flights only a week and a half ago and used miles to book the trip. —K.c. Alfred, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024

The group's website shows leaders also wearing thunderbird pendants around their necks. —Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024

Four matching pendants make up the lighting above the island, while accents like the golden kitchen faucet and pot rack match the warm metal theme. —Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

In addition to the mandatory cowboy hat, the model wore low-rise leather flares with a sequined tie-back halter top, and a chunky turquoise and metal pendant choker on a leather thong. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pendant

noun

pen·​dant

variants also pendent

ˈpen-dənt 

: something that hangs down especially as an ornament