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

However, actually measuring time down to the second only became possible after Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock in 1657. — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026

The pandemic’s pendulum swing toward goods spending caused demand to spike for the transportation of those products. — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

The footwear pendulum has swung back from low-key to maximalist, buyers agree. — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026

At that point, Americans’ pendulum-like position on immigration enforcement appeared to have swung closer to the president’s more hardline stance. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 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