barometer
noun
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When did barometer become figurative?
Originally, barometer referred to an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure. Although this meaning is still very much in use, the word has taken on a strongly figurative sense denoting something that signals changes in conditions not necessarily related to the weather. This extended use of barometer has existed since at least the early 18th century, when Isaac Bickerstaff used it in an article in The Tatler: “I have an Engine in my Study, which is a Sort of a Political Barometer, or, to speak more intelligibly, a State Weather-Glass.”
Synonyms
Examples of barometer in a Sentence
Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
Yet the stock market is often considered a barometer of the health of the economy, and its performance during a presidential term can influence perceptions of success or failure.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
This price level would be just below the 50-day moving average, a trend barometer which often serves as short-term support.
—David Keller, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025
For Trump, who often cites stock market performance as a barometer of his presidency's success, these gains are seen as a vindication of his economic policies.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near barometer
Cite this Entry
“Barometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barometer. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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barometer
noun
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