barometer

American  

[buh-rom-i-ter] / bəˈrɒm ɪ tər /

noun

1. Meteorology. any instrument that measures atmospheric pressure.

2. anything that indicates changes.

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barometer British  

/ ˌbærəˈmɛtrɪk, bəˈrɒmɪtə /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, usually to determine altitude or weather changes

2. anything that shows change or impending change

   the barometer of social change

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barometer Scientific  

/ bə-rŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure. Barometers are used in determining height above sea level and in forecasting the weather. The two primary types of barometers are the aneroid and the mercury barometer.

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barometer Cultural  

1. An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure.

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Discover More

In general, when the barometer falls in response to a drop in pressure, bad weather is approaching; when the barometer rises because of an increase in pressure, good weather will follow.

Other Word Forms

• barometric
  adjective
• barometrical
  adjective
• barometrically
  adverb
• barometry
  noun

Etymology

Origin of barometer

First recorded in 1655–65; baro- + -meter

Explanation

A barometer is a device that measures atmospheric pressure. Barometers help meteorologists figure out what the weather is going to be like. Sure, it's technically a weather man's tool — but you can use barometer more generally to describe anything that can be used to forecast or measure something else. The stock market is a barometer for economic health. Your grades are a barometer of how you're doing in school. For the President, a national poll is a barometer of political success. These kinds of barometers tell which way the wind is blowing — just not literally.

Example Sentences

Who on this roster measures up against the barometer that is Oklahoma City?

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Big picture: The huge services side of the economy is the best barometer of growth.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

On the convention floor, I ran into Andy Levin, who is something of a local political barometer with his own ideas about where the Democrats should go.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

It will serve as a barometer of what will happen across the rest of the central belt.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Kabuo, his radio on, checked his barometer; it still held steady despite talk of rough weather, cold squalls of sleet reported to the north, out of the Strait of Georgia.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson