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

As a baseball industry, has the pendulum swung too far toward measurable skill development at the expense of understanding the application of those skills? —Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

The recent rise in political conservatism has given additional momentum to anti-DEI activities, causing the pendulum to swing very rapidly in the opposite direction. —Paolo Gaudiano, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025

How will the pendulum swing away from progressive policies affect crime, incarceration, housing, low-wage labor and other facets of life in the Golden State? —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025

On the other side of the pendulum swing, Jessica Pratt’s hypnotic sound pulled me into her warmth with Here in the Pitch as the cold came rolling in. —Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2024

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