noun

bellwether

/ˈbelˌweðər/ · say it: BEL·weth·er

something that indicates a future trend, as a swing district

In Politics & Diplomacy

In more detail

1. (noun) a sheep or goat that leads the flock, usually wearing a bell

2. (noun) a person or thing that shows what will happen in the future; a leader or indicator of trends

Examples

1. The bellwether wore a large bell around its neck so the farmer could hear where the flock was.
2. That company is considered a bellwether for the technology industry because its success predicts market trends.

How to use bellwether

Bellwether is most commonly used in modern English as a metaphorical noun referring to a person, company, market, or region whose performance or behavior reliably predicts broader trends. It carries connotations of authority and reliability—a bellwether is trusted to show the way forward. The original pastoral sense is largely obsolete except in historical or rural contexts.

Common phrases

bellwether state
bellwether stock
economic bellwether
bellwether indicator
serve as a bellwether
bellwether sign

Synonyms

leader · indicator · forerunner · trendsetter · harbinger

Opposites

follower · laggard

Word family

bellwethers (plural)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse bellwether with bellweather (a false spelling), or misuse it as a verb when it functions only as a noun.

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