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

But after years of being told that college was a necessity to get a good job, the pendulum may be swinging the other way. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2025

Conservatives who cheer now will regret it when the pendulum swings. —Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025

The tech industry swings like a pendulum. —Jim McGregor, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

So, why the sudden pendulum swing? —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 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