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

Jesus, can’t the pendulum ever land in the middle in this country. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2025

Falke is partial to their selection of French portico clocks: 19th-century timepieces with classical columns and gilded pendulums. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2025

But a day later, the judicial pendulum swinging back in Trump's favor when an appeals court announced that tariffs could continue as the appeals process plays out. —ABC News, 1 June 2025

Despite the Justice Department’s current direction, Lawlor said, the pendulum is bound to swing back the other way. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, neuter of pendulus

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