pendant

/ˈpɛndənt/

/ˈpɛndɪnt/

Other forms: pendants

If you’re wearing a necklace with a large gold heart on a delicate chain, then you have a pendant, an ornament that hangs on a chain.

The word pendant traces back to the Latin word, pendere, meaning "to hang," which tips you off that pendant is a word describing something that hangs, like an ornament that hangs on a chain or a type of light that hangs from the ceiling. As an adjective, pendant means "held from above," like the pendant rock formations that hang from the cave's ceiling.

Definitions of pendant

1. noun

   an adornment that hangs from a piece of jewelry (necklace or earring)
   synonyms: pendent

   types:

   lavalier, lavaliere, lavalliere

   jeweled pendant worn on a chain around the neck

   type of:

   adornment

   a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness
2. noun

   branched lighting fixture; often ornate; hangs from the ceiling
   synonyms: chandelier, pendent

   type of:

   lighting fixture

   a fixture providing artificial light
3. adjective

   held from above
   “a pendant bunch of grapes”

   synonyms: dependent, pendent, pendular

   supported

   held up or having the weight borne especially from below