Bellwether

Quick meaning: Bellwether is a noun meaning The leading sheep of a flock, having a bell hung round its neck.

Meaning

The leading sheep of a flock, having a bell hung round its neck.

More Meanings

1. (figuratively) Anything that indicates future trends.
2. (finance, figuratively) A stock or bond that is widely believed to be an indicator of the overall market's condition.

Example Sentences

Mortgage delinquencies often act as a bellwether for a forthcoming recession.

Wisconsin’s state Supreme Court races were once sleepy affairs. But over the past decade they have increasingly been seen as crucial national bellwethers.

At Hampton Court the little flocks of visitors are not provided with an official bellwether, but are left to browse at discretion upon the local antiquities.

One of my favorite sentiment indicators is bellwether stocks — key stocks that are leaders in their fields. When investors buy or sell these shares, it's usually a good sign of confidence or the lack of it in that sector of the market and sometimes even the economy.

Word Forms

• bellwethers
• bell-wether
• bellweather
• belwether

Synonyms for bellwether

Depending on context, synonyms include gauge, indicator, sign.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include lead, titan, giant, pilot, mogul, pioneer.

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