bellwether

[ bel-weth-er ]

/ ˈbɛlˌwɛð ər /

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See synonyms for bellwether on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

a person or thing that assumes the leadership or forefront, as of a profession or industry: Paris is a bellwether of the fashion industry.

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

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

OTHER WORDS FOR bellwether

2 leader, pacesetter, front runner, trailblazer.

See synonyms for bellwether on Thesaurus.com

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of bellwether

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at bell¹, wether

Words nearby bellwether

bells of Ireland, Bell's palsy, bell tent, bell the cat, who will, bell-topper, bellwether, Bellwood, bellwort, belly, bellyache, bellyband

How to use bellwether in a sentence

From 1980 to 2012, for instance, these bellwether counties consistently voted within a few points of the national popular vote.
Where Did All The Bellwether Counties Go?|Ryan Matsumoto|February 1, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
State and local initiatives are typically bellwethers, with successful ones serving as models for other states.
Three places where data is on the ballot this November|Eileen Guo|October 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Iowa has been a bellwether state in recent presidential elections.
Joni Ernst didn’t know the price of soybeans. Here’s why that could cost her.|Benjamin Rosenberg|October 16, 2020|Vox
Historically, jobs reports released shortly before the election have been reasonable bellwethers for how the incumbent party will do, although the last jobs report of the cycle isn’t necessarily the most reliable.
September’s Jobs Report Is A Political Rorschach Test|Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux (Amelia.Thomson-DeVeaux@abc.com)|October 2, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Nike is a bellwether for a sector that’s been outperforming during the pandemic.
Gold bugs are on the back foot as COVID concerns climb and stimulus-check hopes fade|Bernhard Warner|September 25, 2020|Fortune
When does a local education fight become a national bellwether?
Why Is Progressive Hero Bill de Blasio Throwing Charter Schools Out of New York City?|Conor P. Williams|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Old Dominion is now a national bellwether, and the GOP is looking like anything but a national party.
Election Night 2013: The Center Speaks|Lloyd Green|November 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Yet, the reality is that Cuccinelli lags, and that Virginia is now an electoral bellwether.
‘Last Supper’ Flap Dredges Up Ken Cuccinelli’s Demons|Lloyd Green|September 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Brad Plumer notes that Walmart sales are often a bellwether for the rest of the economy.
Walmart Customers Have Disappeared. Will They Take the Economy With Them?|Megan McArdle|February 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
So Ohio is more than just a bellwether; it could decide the election.
Virginia, Ohio, Florida: What to Watch For on Election Night 2012|Howard Kurtz|November 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A Galilean said, "When the shepherd is angry with his flock, he appoints for its leader a blind bellwether."
Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala|Various
And what is the use of arguing with sheep who are leaping after the bellwether?
The Champagne Standard|Mrs. John Lane
But take a sheep flock now—the bellwether is jest a nice gentle old castrate thet'll do jest whut the sheepherder wants.
Assassin|Jesse Franklin Bone
One bellwether will carry a whole flock after it, but I fear not that any will want to hold back.
By Right of Conquest|G. A. Henty
If I done something against the regulations, would you have to report me to Captain Bellwether?
Cum Grano Salis|Gordon Randall Garrett

British Dictionary definitions for bellwether

bellwether

/ (ˈbɛlˌwɛðə) /

noun

a sheep that leads the herd, often bearing a bell

a leader, esp one followed unquestioningly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bellwether

OTHER WORDS FOR bellwether

Origin of bellwether

Words nearby bellwether

Words related to bellwether

How to use bellwether in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bellwether