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

In a new interview, the model and reality TV personality reflects on the often-meme'd moment from 2010's cycle 14, which saw Tyra Banks' cast of model hopefuls dodge the menacing pendulums that wobbled back and forth as contestants navigated the runway. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026

Fewer farms would swing the pendulum again – back to shortages and higher prices, Thompson said. —Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026

Just like a stationary pendulum, when nudged, returns to its stationary state, a quantum system, too, when disturbed, returns to its balanced state. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026

Eventually, though, the pendulum swung the other way, as the chunky, shell-toed shoe fell out of fashion, making way for the the return of the streamlined Samba. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Feb. 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