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Definition of pendulum

pendulum

/ˈpɛn.dʒə.ləm/
pen · du · lum
Adverb:pendulously
•
Plural:pendulums
•
Adjective:pendulous
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pendulum Lexical Profile

pendulum Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely, especially a rod with a weight at the end that regulates the mechanism of a clock.

Example

"The old grandfather clock kept perfect time as its heavy brass pendulum swung steadily back and forth."

2

A tendency, situation, or state of affairs that alternates repeatedly between two opposing extremes.

Example

"The political pendulum often swings back toward the opposition party during midterm elections."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

pendant
pending
pendulous
pendulum
penetrable
penetrate
penetrating

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 17th century: from modern Latin, noun use of the neuter of Latin pendulus 'hanging down', from pendere 'to hang'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pendulum. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pendulum
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