barometer

noun

ba·​rom·​e·​ter bə-ˈrä-mə-tər How to pronounce barometer (audio)
1
: an instrument for determining the pressure of the atmosphere and hence for assisting in forecasting weather and for determining altitude (see altitude sense 1a)
2
: something that indicates fluctuations (as in public opinion)
housing sales and other economic barometers
3
: standard, test
a barometer to measure high school talentJeff Fellenzer
barometric adjective
barometrically adverb
barometry noun

Did you know?

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.”

Examples of barometer in a Sentence

a legendary Broadway flop that has subsequently become the barometer by which failure in the theater is judged
Recent Examples on the Web Tucker-Vikström posited that 350 to 500 miles run is a good barometer to take note of. Mason Leib, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2024 There’s nothing magical about an incumbent gaining above or below 50 percent support in a primary, but sometimes that’s viewed as a barometer of strength, or lack thereof. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 Here comes that Stokes phrasing again about not looking at the endgame as the only barometer. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Liverpool overwhelmed Chelsea in a 4-1 drubbing at Anfield in the league just three weeks ago, but the Reds' injury situation means that game can no longer be a true barometer of what is to come on Sunday. Steve Douglas, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 There is no greater barometer for success than the consent of the people. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 The Hang Seng Index, a measure of the city’s financial health but also an unofficial barometer of public sentiment, has declined for four consecutive years. Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2024 Visiting the salon has been a political rite of passage for every French president since Jacques Chirac, who was in office from 1995 to 2007, often serving as a barometer of the ability to connect with rural France. Liz Alderman, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Here’s a barometer Despite years of scientific progress and a handful of pioneering regulatory approvals, no one’s quite sure whether selling gene therapies will ever be a profitable endeavor. Damian Garde, STAT, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barometer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barometer was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near barometer

Cite this Entry

“Barometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barometer. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

barometer

noun
ba·​rom·​e·​ter bə-ˈräm-ət-ər How to pronounce barometer (audio)
: an instrument that measures the pressure of the atmosphere to determine probable weather changes
barometric adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on barometer

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