fulcrum

American  

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

noun

fulcrums, plural fulcra plural

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

For national security professionals of my generation, 9/11 was the fulcrum in many of our professional and personal lives.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

“At this point, we are laser focused on the fulcrum question going forward: how effective are Iran’s drones?”

From MarketWatch • Feb. 28, 2026

I keep getting back to this word, fulcrum.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

“As this month winds down, we look for the crude markets to continue to act as a fulcrum with diesel providing leadership on both the upside and now the downside,” Ritterbusch says in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

There are those who secretly deplore these great discoveries, who consider every step a demotion, who in their heart of hearts still pine for a universe whose center, focus and fulcrum is the Earth.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

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