pendulum

noun

pen·​du·​lum ˈpen-jə-ləm 

ˈpen-dyə-, 

-də-

1

: a body suspended from a fixed point so as to swing freely to and fro under the action of gravity and commonly used to regulate movements (as of clockwork)

2

: something (such as a state of affairs) that alternates between opposites

doesn't take much to swing the pendulum of opinion the other way

Examples of pendulum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Famed investor Howard Marks compares this dynamic to a pendulum, with the stock price swinging above and below fair value but rarely sitting at fair value. — Timothy P. Beyer, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Now, the pendulum has swung considerably in the opposite direction. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

Speaking of the adventure itself, The King XXL started off slowly, swinging to the left and right like a pendulum. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

As the pendulum swung back and forth in the second half Argentina was left with 13 men after Joaquin Oviedo and Santiago Carreras were shown yellow cards for a neck roll and professional foul. — ABC News, 18 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, noun derivative from neuter of Latin pendulus pendulous

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pendulum

• Foucault pendulum

Kids Definition

pendulum

noun

pen·​du·​lum ˈpen-jə-ləm 

: a body hung from a fixed point so as to swing freely back and forth under the action of gravity

Etymology

from scientific Latin pendulum "something suspended so as to swing freely," from Latin pendulus "suspended," from pendēre "to hang" — related to depend, perpendicular