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

When did workplaces start embracing DEI? The backlash against DEI may feel like a pendulum swing from 2020, when the nation faced a racial reckoning after Black father George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis by a White police officer. —Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025

But as with every pendulum swing, there comes an inflection point that offers a chance to pause and reflect. —Magnus Ahlqvist, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

So there’s a lot of us that are hoping for the pendulum to swing the other way. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025

Sanders was in the pole position a month ago (-140), but the pendulum has now swung in Ward’s direction. —Mark Ross, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, neuter of pendulus

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