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

Amos, who died in 2024 at age 88, seemed to live life on an eternal pendulum swing. —Perri Ormont Blumberg, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025

The fashion pendulum has now swung back in favor of the kind of polished, prim elegance in which peplums feel right at home—and as Jenna Ortega proves too, a peplum can be very, very cool. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2025

The pep in my step was better and bigger — swinging the pendulum in my favor. —Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025

The pendulum has swung so far the other way that delistings soared this year as sellers became fed up with offers coming in below asking prices and took their homes off the market. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025

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