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

Unimaginable — time — measured by a pendulum of light, illuminating the splendor of one of the greatest marvels on, or under, the Earth. —Nicole Young, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026

If popular wine auction results are truly harbingers of pendulum swings in the world of wine, then Cabernet Franc is having a moment. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026

Then the pendulum swung and strength training came into vogue in the ’90s and 2000s as more research emerged suggesting that lifting could help improve bone health and prevent osteoporosis, Petrzela says. —Caitlin Carlson, SELF, 27 Mar. 2026

Englund says that the pendulum may already be swinging back toward establishing firmer AI governance controls, especially as agentic AI usage proliferates. —John Kell, Fortune, 25 Mar. 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