General
bellwether
What does bellwether mean?
A person, company, or metric that signals the direction a broader trend will take.
"That client is a bellwether for the whole segment."
Origin
From a lead sheep ('wether') wearing a bell.
Frequently asked questions
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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