pendulum

noun

pen·​du·​lum ˈpen-jə-ləm How to pronounce pendulum (audio)
ˈpen-dyə-, 
-də-
1
: a body suspended from a fixed point so as to swing freely to and fro under the action of gravity and commonly used to regulate movements (as of clockwork)
2
: something (such as a state of affairs) that alternates between opposites
doesn't take much to swing the pendulum of opinion the other way

Examples of pendulum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Grande became the face of an ongoing conversation around health, and the cultural pendulum swing away from body positivity to the glorification of thinness, ignited by the proliferation of weight-loss drugs. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 At some locations, the company uses precise data packet arrival times, while other locations use wave machines or pendulums. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026 That partisan restraint will look smart when the political pendulum swings, whether at the midterms or in 2028. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Coaching and medical staff are also preparing for a huge pendulum swing as the team gets ready for mid-week Champions League fixtures and (hopefully) more domestic cup games. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pendulum

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, noun derivative from neuter of Latin pendulus pendulous

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pendulum was in 1660

Phrases Containing pendulum

Browse Nearby Words

pendulous crop
pendulum
pendulum gun
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pendulum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pendulum. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pendulum

noun
pen·​du·​lum ˈpen-jə-ləm How to pronounce pendulum (audio)
: a body hung from a fixed point so as to swing freely back and forth under the action of gravity
Etymology

from scientific Latin pendulum "something suspended so as to swing freely," from Latin pendulus "suspended," from pendēre "to hang" — related to depend, perpendicular

More from Merriam-Webster on pendulum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pendulum

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