pendulum

American  

[pen-juh-luhm, pen-duh-] / ˈpɛn dʒə ləm, ˈpɛn də- /

noun

pendulums plural

1. a body so suspended from a fixed point as to move to and fro by the action of gravity and acquired momentum.

2. Horology. a swinging lever, weighted at the lower end, for regulating the speed of a clock mechanism.

3. something that tends to move from one position, condition, etc., to the opposite extreme and then back again.

   In a democratic society, the pendulum of political thought swings left and right.

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pendulum British  

/ ˈpɛndjʊləm /

noun

1. a body mounted so that it can swing freely under the influence of gravity. It is either a bob hung on a light thread ( simple pendulum ) or a more complex structure ( compound pendulum )

2. such a device used to regulate a clockwork mechanism

3. something that changes its position, attitude, etc fairly regularly

   the pendulum of public opinion

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pendulum Scientific  

/ pĕn′jə-ləm /

1. A mass hung from a fixed support so that it is able to swing freely under the influence of gravity. Since the motion of pendulums is regular and periodic, they are often used to regulate the action of various devices, especially clocks.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pendulumlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pendulums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pendulum

1650–60; < New Latin, noun use of neuter of Latin pendulus pendulous

Explanation

A pendulum is something hanging and swinging freely from a fixed point. A grandfather clock might use for timekeeping a pendulum that swings back and forth. Pendulum comes from the Latin word pendulous, meaning "hanging down." If someone hangs a pocket watch in front of you and swings it back and forth, saying, "You're getting very sleepy," they're mimicking the movement of a pendulum. We also use the word pendulum to describe a situation moving between two poles or across a spectrum, like the balance of power in a multiparty political system.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pendulum pendulums

“You’ve seen the pendulum swing like crazy,” Galipeau said, adding that the time to buy chip stocks was eight months ago.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

But the pendulum swung and we’re back to days of “Driving Miss Daisy” denial.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

The U.S. economy has never occupied either of these extremes; over the decades, the pendulum has swung between regulation and competition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026

But Monnier at Citi Wealth argues that the pendulum is swinging back a bit as families realize that doing their own due diligence on a company is a lot of work.

From Barron's ● May 23, 2026

Increase the swing of the pendulum, increase, increase, come up and bear against that point of furthest balance-increase-increase- "Heave!"

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

The nanoscale sensors look like rows of bulbous pendulums, each comprising a double-stranded cord of DNA.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 5, 2024

Recognizing this new reality, Boric called on those who won the election Sunday to “not make the same mistake we did … in believing that pendulums are permanent.”

From Seattle Times ● May 8, 2023

Using tarot, scrying, pendulums, runes and other forms of intuitive counseling, Amanda Yates Garcia, known as the Oracle of L.A., offers clarity through elemental divination sessions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2022

Devices for measuring earthquakes go back at least to the early part of the 18th century, when pendulums were used to display ground motions.

From New York Times ● Jul. 23, 2020

It incorporated weights, counterweights, pendulums, shafts, and torsion wires.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• timer