Origin: 1600-1700 Modern Latin Latin pendulus; ➔ PENDULOUS
1 [countable] a long stick or string with a weight at the bottom that swings regularly from side to side, and controls the operation of a large clock2the pendulum used to talk about the tendency of ideas, beliefs, etc. to change regularly from one position to an opposite one: Today, the fashion pendulum is swinging back to more severe tailored styles.