fulcrum

American  

[fool-kruhm, fuhl-] / ˈfʊl krəm, ˈfʌl- /

noun

plural

fulcrums, fulcra

1. the support, or point of rest, on which a lever turns in moving a body.

2. any prop or support.

3. Zoology. any of various structures in an animal serving as a hinge or support.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fit with a fulcrum; put a fulcrum on.

fulcrum British  

/ ˈfʊlkrəm, ˈfʌl- /

noun

1. the pivot about which a lever turns

2. something that supports or sustains; prop

3. a spinelike scale occurring in rows along the anterior edge of the fins in primitive bony fishes such as the sturgeon

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fulcrum Scientific  

/ fl′krəm /

1. The point or support on which a lever turns. The position of the fulcrum, relative to the positions of the load and effort, determines the type of lever.

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fulcrum Cultural  

1. The point on which a lever is balanced when a force is exerted.

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Etymology

Origin of fulcrum

1665–75; < Latin: back-support of a couch, apparently for fulctrum, equivalent to fulc ( īre ) to hold up, support + -trum noun suffix of instrument

Explanation

A fulcrum is the supporting point of a lever. The first fulcrum you encountered was probably on the playground — right underneath the see-saw. Back in the 17th century, a fulcrum referred to any general prop or support. Today it’s taken on more scientific connotations, thanks to physics class. However, people still use fulcrum to describe something that plays an essential role or serves as the center of an activity or situation, such as "the fulcrum of the debate." That dad who organizes everybody’s playdates? He's the fulcrum of the playground social circle.

Example Sentences

“We felt very confident that the Supreme Court would rule in favor of the tariff payers,” said Matthew Hamilton, managing principal of Fulcrum, which he said is in talks to purchase more claims.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Fulcrum, thank you for coming on “Hard Fork.”

From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2022

Suhail Shaikh, CIO at Fulcrum Asset Management in London, estimates volatility is already between the 90th and 95th percentile in the context of asset classes' own history.

From Reuters • May 13, 2022

Fulcrum is owned by fifth-generation Costa Rican coffee farmer Blas Alfaro, who also has his own roastery, Fulcrum Coffee Roaster, in Sodo.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 27, 2022

Her favorite pizza place, Luigi’s, was in the food court of the Fulcrum City Galleria—which was on her way home from school.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

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