bellwether

noun

bell·weth·er ˈbel-ˈwe-t͟hər How to pronounce bellwether (audio)

-ˌwe-

: one that takes the lead or initiative : leader

also : an indicator of trends

Did you know?

We usually think of sheep more as followers than leaders, but in a flock one sheep must lead the way. Long ago, it was common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This animal was called the bellwether, a word formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning "bell") and wether (a noun that refers to a male sheep that has been castrated). It eventually followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in English in the 15th century.

Example Sentences

She is a bellwether of fashion. High-tech bellwethers led the decline in the stock market. a county that is a bellwether in national elections

Recent Examples on the Web Indeed, many experts had been looking toward May as a potential bellwether of residents’ willingness to change after the abysmal start to the year.

Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2022 For perspective, the bellwether cryptocurrency Bitcoin BTC -4.3% is now down by 74% from its record high in November, trading at about $19,000 as of Sunday.

Trefis Team, Forbes, 22 June 2022 Beyond the Alps, greening is well-established in the Arctic, a reality some experts say should be viewed as a bellwether of global climate change.

Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 2 June 2022 The bill is widely viewed as a bellwether of whether Republicans and Democrats will be able to convert the mounting bipartisan animosity toward the tech industry into new laws.

Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2021 Democrats are projected to win a special House election in New York on Tuesday in a race seen as a potential bellwether for this year's midterms, ABC News reports.

Bytal Axelrod, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2022 But the state sees itself as a bellwether in the energy transition, using its regulations and the power of a 30-million-vehicle market to push automakers to scale up production, which will ultimately lower prices nationwide.

Evan Halper, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 Walmart, a bellwether for retailers, had a great quarter.

Allison Morrow, CNN, 17 Aug. 2022 Home Depot is an key retail bellwether for the broader economy.

Michael E. Kanell, ajc, 16 Aug. 2022 See More

单词	bellwether
释义	bellwether noun bell·weth·er ˈbel-ˈwe-t͟hər -ˌwe- : one that takes the lead or initiative : leader also : an indicator of trends Did you know? We usually think of sheep more as followers than leaders, but in a flock one sheep must lead the way. Long ago, it was common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This animal was called the bellwether, a word formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning "bell") and wether (a noun that refers to a male sheep that has been castrated). It eventually followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in English in the 15th century. Synonyms leader pacemaker pacer pacesetter trendsetter See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences She is a bellwether of fashion. High-tech bellwethers led the decline in the stock market. a county that is a bellwether in national elections Recent Examples on the Web Indeed, many experts had been looking toward May as a potential bellwether of residents’ willingness to change after the abysmal start to the year. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2022 For perspective, the bellwether cryptocurrency Bitcoin BTC -4.3% is now down by 74% from its record high in November, trading at about $19,000 as of Sunday. Trefis Team, Forbes, 22 June 2022 Beyond the Alps, greening is well-established in the Arctic, a reality some experts say should be viewed as a bellwether of global climate change. Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 2 June 2022 The bill is widely viewed as a bellwether of whether Republicans and Democrats will be able to convert the mounting bipartisan animosity toward the tech industry into new laws. Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2021 Democrats are projected to win a special House election in New York on Tuesday in a race seen as a potential bellwether for this year's midterms, ABC News reports. Bytal Axelrod, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2022 But the state sees itself as a bellwether in the energy transition, using its regulations and the power of a 30-million-vehicle market to push automakers to scale up production, which will ultimately lower prices nationwide. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 Walmart, a bellwether for retailers, had a great quarter. Allison Morrow, CNN, 17 Aug. 2022 Home Depot is an key retail bellwether for the broader economy. Michael E. Kanell, ajc, 16 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English bellewether, belleweder "castrated ram with a bell around his neck followed by the other sheep in a flock, leader," from belle bell entry 1 + wether, weder wether First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined above bellwether noun as in leader one that takes the lead or sets an example the state has a long history of being an early and reliable bellwether in presidential elections Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance leader pioneer harbinger pacesetter trendsetter pacemaker pacer innovator forerunner precursor herald groundbreaker foregoer Antonyms & Near Antonyms imitator follower Johnny-come-lately me-tooer
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bellwether

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun