pendulum

[pen-juh-luhm, pen-duh-]

noun

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.

pendulum

/ 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

pendulum

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.

Other Word Forms

• pendulumlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pendulum¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pendulum¹

C17: from Latin pendulus _pendulous

Example Sentences

But, like all things in cocktail culture, the pendulum swung back.

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Traditional clocks, from pendulums to atomic oscillators, depend on irreversible processes to track time.

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We have seen pendulum swings like this before in other policy areas—and I just have to believe that it will swing in this area as well.

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Nationwide, the pendulum has shifted profoundly from a period when school officials ratcheted up graduation requirements as a way to spur student achievement.

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“I think this swings the pendulum too far in the other direction,” he said.

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Related Words

• timer