bellwether

American  

[bel-weth-er] / ˈbɛlˌwɛð ər /

noun

• bellwethers
  plural

1. a wether or other male sheep that leads the flock, usually bearing a bell.

2. a person or thing that assumes the leadership or forefront, as of a profession or industry.

   Paris is a bellwether of the fashion industry.

   Synonyms:

   trailblazer, front runner, pacesetter, leader

3. a person or thing that shows the existence or direction of a trend; index.

4. a person who leads a mob, mutiny, conspiracy, or the like; ringleader.

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bellwether British  

/ ˈbɛlˌwɛðə /

noun

1. a sheep that leads the herd, often bearing a bell

2. a leader, esp one followed unquestioningly

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bellwethers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of bellwether

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at bell ¹, wether

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Explanation

Use the word bellwether to indicate someone or something that takes the lead in a group or movement. Literally, a bellwether is a sheep (often wearing a bell) that leads a herd. Unless you herd sheep, you probably don't see many bellwethers that say "Baaa." That's the origin of this word, but there are many other types of bellwethers who lead the way in different areas. Apple was a bellwether in technology. Rosa Parks was a bellwether in civil rights. And, during election season, those "bellwether states" are the ones where the primaries seem to predict the outcome of a party's nomination.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bellwether bellwethers

Given the shortage of memory that many analysts and chief executives have highlighted, semiconductor pricing is a bellwether for the scarcity of supplies.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

Los Javis tied for best director honors in Cannes, and the Spanish-language film won the top audience prizes in San Sebastian and at the Toronto International Film Festival, a reliable bellwether for Academy Awards success.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

Thompson pointed out that some bellwether healthcare names, like Eli Lilly, were trading near their highest levels in a year, a promising sign that healthcare stocks could continue to climb.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

AI bellwether Nvidia rose 2.1% to a record $238.90, and now sports a market capitalization over $5.7 trillion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

We think in flocks and once in the flock we go wherever the bellwether leads us.

From Leaves in the Wind by A. G. (Alfred George) Gardiner

Airline, trucking and railroad stocks are often considered market bellwethers, given the companies’ vital role in moving goods and raw materials that power the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

One of the most critical retail bellwethers, restaurants, saw a slight decline in sales in December.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 10, 2026

The Los Angeles trial is among a handful of bellwethers meant to clarify the uncharted legal terrain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 27, 2026

Magnificent Seven members Apple, Microsoft, Meta and Tesla are due this week, with other bellwethers including Texas Instruments, Boeing and Mastercard providing an idea about the state of the economy.

From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026

Themselves the victims of conditions, they were the bellwethers to millions of victims compelled to follow their leadership.

From The Grain of Dust by David Graham Phillips

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