Synonyms for bellwether

Grammar : Noun

Spell : bel-weth-er

Phonetic Transcription : ˈbɛlˌwɛð ər

Définition of bellwether

Origin : mid-14c. (late 13c. in Anglo-Latin; late 12c. as a surname), from bell (n.) + wether; the lead sheep (on whose neck a bell was hung) of a domesticated flock. Figurative sense of "chief, leader" is from mid-14c.

noun leader

Example sentences :

The crowd does not imitate or follow its leader as sheep do a bellwether.
Extract from : « Introduction to the Science of Sociology » by Robert E. Park

And what is the use of arguing with sheep who are leaping after the bellwether?
Extract from : « The Champagne Standard » by Mrs. John Lane

Without some governing body to direct the affairs of the country they would have been like a flock without its bellwether.
Extract from : « Bonaparte in Egypt and the Egyptians of To-day » by Haji A. Browne

And the whole nine of us obligingly trudged after him like sheep after the bellwether, and reëntered the castle.
Extract from : « The Adventures of the Eleven Cuff-Buttons » by James Francis Thierry

But take a sheep flock now—the bellwether is jest a nice gentle old castrate thet'll do jest whut the sheepherder wants.
Extract from : « Assassin » by Jesse Franklin Bone

One bellwether will carry a whole flock after it, but I fear not that any will want to hold back.
Extract from : « By Right of Conquest » by G. A. Henty

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019