First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
bellwether
noun bell·weth·er \ˈbel-ˈwe-thər, -ˌwe-\
: someone or something that leads others or shows what will happen in the future
Full Definition of BELLWETHER
: one that takes the lead or initiative : leader; also : an indicator of trends
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Origin of BELLWETHER
Middle English, leading sheep of a flock, leader, from belle bell + wether; from the practice of belling the leader of a flock
Related to BELLWETHER
- Synonyms
- leader, pacemaker, pacer, pacesetter, trendsetter
Rhymes with BELLWETHER
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