bellwether

The useful part

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 27, 2026 is: bellwether В• \BEL-WEH-ther\В В• noun Bellwether usually refers to something that serves as an indicator of trends. // Event organizers say the concert series is a bellwether, demonstrating that good shows can bring visitors to the town. Because it suggests the act of forecasting, one might be inclined to think that bellwether has something to do with weather.

How it works

• We usually think of sheep more as followers than leaders, but in a flock one sheep must lead the way.
• It eventually followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others.
• Since long ago, it has been common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep.

Details worth keeping

It can also refer to someone or something that leads others. See the entry > Examples: “Disney, with its long and illustrious history and dominating cultural influence, is seen as something of a bellwether for the entire entertainment industry …” вЂ" Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. The wether in bellwether has nothing to do with meteorology.