pen‧du‧lum /ˈpendjələm, ˈpendjʊləm $ -dʒə-/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin pendulus; ⇒ pendulous]

1. a long metal stick with a weight at the bottom that swings regularly from side to side to control the working of a clock

2. the pendulum used to talk about the tendency of ideas, beliefs etc to change regularly to the opposite:
After several years of Republican government, the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back and voters will elect a Democrat.
the pendulum of
the pendulum of fashion

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲