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 main character home is less a style than a filter, and the homeowners who apply it earliest will spend less on trend-chasing over the next few years than those who wait for the pendulum to swing again. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Yet there have been signs that the pendulum in swinging back toward Democrats in the region, with a Democrat winning the Miami mayor’s race last year for the first time in nearly three decades. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026

Some say the pendulum has swung too far since the 2008 housing crisis. — Julie Z. Weil, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2026

So this new approach is like the proverbial pendulum swinging away from a concentration on senior candidates being selected. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 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