noun
General Slang
bellwether
BEL-weth-er · noun · informal
An indicator of a coming trend.
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Definitions
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A person, company, or metric that signals the direction a broader trend will take.
“That client is a bellwether for the whole segment.”
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bellwether In A Sentence
That client is a bellwether for the whole segment.
Origin & Usage
From a lead sheep ('wether') wearing a bell.
People Also Ask
What is a bellwether?
It's a person, company or metric that signals the direction a broader trend is likely to take, acting as a leading indicator.
Where does the word come from?
From a 'wether', a castrated ram that led the flock while wearing a bell, so shepherds could track the whole group by its sound.
How is it used in business?
To describe an early indicator, e.g. 'That state is a bellwether for national consumer spending.'
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