bellwether

[bel-weth-er]

noun

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.

bellwether

/ ˈbɛlˌwɛðə /

noun

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

2. a leader, esp one followed unquestioningly

Word History and Origins

Origin of bellwether¹

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

Example Sentences

It is just the latest bellwether for the state of our dystopian nation.

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But Alain -- not his real name as he did not want to be identified -- said resignation and political apathy hung over parts of the bellwether electoral constituency.

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The case could prove to be a bellwether for other immigration protest charges filed by Acting U.S.

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With control of Congress at stake in 2026, both parties are closely watching Texas, Missouri and California as potential bellwethers for how far courts will allow partisan line-drawing to go.

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He said the question now is whether Nvidia's "dive into robotics" will help it sustain its role as "the bellwether of the AI economy".

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