bellwether

[ bel-weth-er ]

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.

   Synonyms: trailblazer, front runner, pacesetter, leader

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.

bellwether

/ ˈbɛlˌwɛðə /

noun

1. a sheep that leads the herd, often bearing a bell
2. a leader, esp one followed unquestioningly

Word History and Origins

Origin of bellwether¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; bell ¹, wether

Example Sentences

From 1980 to 2012, for instance, these bellwether counties consistently voted within a few points of the national popular vote.

From FiveThirtyEight

State and local initiatives are typically bellwethers, with successful ones serving as models for other states.

From MIT Technology Review

Iowa has been a bellwether state in recent presidential elections.

From Vox

Historically, jobs reports released shortly before the election have been reasonable bellwethers for how the incumbent party will do, although the last jobs report of the cycle isn’t necessarily the most reliable.

From FiveThirtyEight

Nike is a bellwether for a sector that’s been outperforming during the pandemic.

From Fortune

When does a local education fight become a national bellwether?

From The Daily Beast

The Old Dominion is now a national bellwether, and the GOP is looking like anything but a national party.

From The Daily Beast

Yet, the reality is that Cuccinelli lags, and that Virginia is now an electoral bellwether.

From The Daily Beast

Brad Plumer notes that Walmart sales are often a bellwether for the rest of the economy.

From The Daily Beast

So Ohio is more than just a bellwether; it could decide the election.

From The Daily Beast

A Galilean said, "When the shepherd is angry with his flock, he appoints for its leader a blind bellwether."

From Project Gutenberg

And what is the use of arguing with sheep who are leaping after the bellwether?

From Project Gutenberg

But take a sheep flock now—the bellwether is jest a nice gentle old castrate thet'll do jest whut the sheepherder wants.

From Project Gutenberg

One bellwether will carry a whole flock after it, but I fear not that any will want to hold back.

From Project Gutenberg

If I done something against the regulations, would you have to report me to Captain Bellwether?

From Project Gutenberg