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 of pendant

• charm
• bangle

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

Save up to 60% on modern lighting, furniture, and decor—from statement chandeliers and sleep pendants to minimalist table lamps and outdoor light fixtures. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 30 Nov. 2025

This unique textured snake pendant is the perfect gift for the fashionista on your shopping list. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2025

Startups are also experimenting with new device sizes like pendants and ideas like giving AI bots a personality. —Kif Leswing, CNBC, 24 Nov. 2025

The childhood star sprinkled more sparkle into the red carpet look by way of a diamond pendant necklace and coordinating tennis bracelet. —Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pendaunt "hanging edge of a belt or garter," borrowed from Anglo-French, noun derivative of pendant, pendaunt "hanging (up or down), dangling" — more at pendent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pendant

• pendent
• tendent
• appendant
• ascendant
• attendant
• defendant
• dependant
• dependent
• descendant
• descendent
• intendant
• resplendent

Kids Definition

pendant

noun

pen·​dant

variants also pendent

ˈpen-dənt 

: something that hangs down especially as an ornament