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 online reaction to the pair of actors is a fascinating glimpse into how the pendulum of public perception swings, as people are always on the hunt for novelty. —Callum Booth, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

After the pandemic, the pendulum swung the other way as investors retreated and venture funding began to dry up. —Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2025

The pendulum has swung the other way in recent years after a rash of devastating wildfires, fueled by heavy growth in California forests and worsened by hotter and drier conditions. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025

But the pendulum swung hard the other way after Mr. Lukashenko claimed an implausible victory over Ms. Tikhanovskaya in that election, which Western governments denounced as rigged, and huge street protests broke out in Minsk and cities across the country. —Tomas Dapkus, New York Times, 15 Feb. 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