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

The pendulum had swung before, but this was more like a dam breaking. —Carla Sosenko, Vogue, 8 May 2025

Mann-Grant promises that Beyond the Gates fans won't have to wait long for their eventual confrontation, and spoiler alert: the pendulum always swings back. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 5 May 2025

The Smashing Machine is a career pendulum swing for Johnson, who flew to the Cannes Film Festival last year to talk with buyers about the project. —Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2025

Does liberation always have to come in pendulum swings, rather than as a less reactive, more thoughtful widening of one’s embrace? —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Apr. 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