bellwether
pronunciation
How to pronounce bellwether in British English:
UK [ˈbelweðə(r)]
How to pronounce bellwether in American English:
US [ˈbɛlwɛˌðɚ]
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- Noun:
- someone who assumes leadership of a movement or activity
- sheep that leads the herd often wearing a bell
Word Origin
- bellwether (n.)
- mid-14c. (late 13c. in Anglo-Latin; late 12c. as a surname), from bell (n.) + wether; the lead sheep (on whose neck a bell was hung) of a domesticated flock. Figurative sense of "chief, leader" is from mid-14c.
Example
- 1. Wealthy singapore is often a bellwether for asia .
- 2. The logistics company is considered a bellwether for the global economy .
- 3. Bellwether companies from nec to nissan have slashed jobs and investment .
- 4. The bellwether of british industry , and the man whosymbolised it , went out together .
- 5. General electric , bellwether of corporate america , has cut its dividend its first reduction since 1938 .