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

In other words, the fashion and interior design pendulum has viciously swung back about two decades. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026

Each seismometer contains a small pendulum suspended within a magnetic field; when a vibration reaches the sensor, a resistor measures the magnetic-field strength required to keep the pendulum stationary. —Vanessa Bates Ramirez, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026

Less through walkouts and more through people feeling like the pendulum swings back, and organizations are trying to hire again. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026

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

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