1_million_words | Word of the Day 12/10/23 Bellwether

Bellwether (noun)
bell·weth·er [bel-weth-er] (previously 10-05-13)

noun
1. a wether or other male sheep that leads the flock, usually bearing a bell.
2. a person or thing that assumes the leadership or forefront, as of a profession or industry: Paris is a bellwether of the fashion industry.
3. a person or thing that shows the existence or direction of a trend; index.
4. a person who leads a mob, mutiny, conspiracy, or the like; ringleader.

WORDS RELATED TO BELLWETHER
doyen, forerunner, guide, lead, sheep

See synonyms for bellwether on Thesaurus.com
OTHER WORDS FOR BELLWETHER
2. leader, pacesetter, frontrunner, trailblazer.

ORIGIN: late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at bell1, wether

HOW TO USE BELLWETHER IN A SENTENCE
When does a local education fight become a national bellwether?
WHY IS PROGRESSIVE HERO BILL DE BLASIO THROWING CHARTER SCHOOLS OUT OF NEW YORK CITY? | CONOR P. WILLIAMS | MARCH 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

The Old Dominion is now a national bellwether, and the GOP is looking like anything but a national party.
ELECTION NIGHT 2013: THE CENTER SPEAKS | LLOYD GREEN | NOVEMBER 6, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

Yet, the reality is that Cuccinelli lags, and that Virginia is now an electoral bellwether.
‘LAST SUPPER’ FLAP DREDGES UP KEN CUCCINELLI’S DEMONS | LLOYD GREEN | SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

Brad Plumer notes that Walmart sales are often a bellwether for the rest of the economy.
WALMART CUSTOMERS HAVE DISAPPEARED. WILL THEY TAKE THE ECONOMY WITH THEM? | MEGAN MCARDLE | FEBRUARY 19, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

So Ohio is more than just a bellwether; it could decide the election.
VIRGINIA, OHIO, FLORIDA: WHAT TO WATCH FOR ON ELECTION NIGHT 2012 | HOWARD KURTZ | NOVEMBER 6, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

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