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

A run of 11 consecutive breaks of serve swung the momentum like a pendulum but it was Gauff who finally held serve in game seven of the second set en route to an 82-minute victory.

Read more on Barron's

“I’ve had people walk out of the room and swear there was a magnet in the pendulum board,” he says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The question in 2026 will be whether the civic pendulum has shifted and if the phrase “veteran politician” still doubles as an effective slur.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But the pendulum in California has shifted away from tough-on-truancy measures to alternatives such as counseling and family assistance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"But to swing the pendulum so far that mRNA is useless and has no value and should not be developed or understood better is equally stupid, it did do remarkable things," he says.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• timer