bellwether

noun

ˈbel-ˈwe-t͟hər How to pronounce bellwether (audio)
Definition of bellwethernext
as in leader
one that takes the lead or sets an example the state has a long history of being an early and reliable bellwether in presidential elections

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bellwether Two more bellwether cases remain scheduled for trial in October, and Meta faces thousands more similar lawsuits that are currently pending. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 As inflation has risen, ground beef has often been a bellwether of surging consumer prices. — Joe Hernandez, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026 It’s viewed as a bellwether for the state of the AI market because so much of the industry’s technology runs on its chips. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 But from where and how Nebraska players arrive in Lincoln still serves as something of a bellwether for the program’s success level. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bellwether
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellwether
  1. leader
  2. pioneer
Noun
  • New Hampshire’s premier Senate race is on after party leaders secured their top choices in what’s shaping up to be one of the tightest contests in the entire country come November.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Singapore pays its political leaders high salaries to attract talent and deter graft, but the issue is thorny in the city-state, where the median wage worker made S$5,775 ($736) a month in 2025.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of leader
Noun
  • The veterans, the pioneers who’ve been in organic cotton for decades, and the new faces arriving with fresh energy.
    — Bart Vollaard, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Rob Almond is the CEO of NEST, a pioneer of Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) in North America.
    — Rob Almond, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pioneer

Browse Nearby Words

bells and whistles
bellwether
bellwethers
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Cite this Entry

“Bellwether.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellwether. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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