weather vane

American  

Or weathervane

noun

1. a device, as a rod to which a freely rotating pointer is attached, for indicating the direction of the wind.

---

weather vane British  

noun

1. a vane designed to indicate the direction in which the wind is blowing

---

Etymology

Origin of weather vane

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

weather vane

The remarks by Williams are especially important because he is a top ally of Fed Chair Jerome Powell and is seen as a weather vane for the bank’s future moves.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 3, 2026

Marialyce Pedersen walked around the parking lot spinning a weather vane on which she’d fashioned a picture of L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026

In doing so, it set up a great weather vane for the state of national politics.

From Slate ● Dec. 2, 2025

The new ministerial position — an assistant minister — is a comparatively minor one, and its role will be limited, at least for the near term, mostly to conversation starter and weather vane.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 8, 2022

I see her take in the white fence and the messy garden, then the rusted weather vane atop the ever so slightly lopsided roof.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish