A pendant (from Old French) is a hanging object, generally attached to a necklace or an earring. In modern French this is a word meaning “during” (also the gerund form of "hanging"). Pendants have several purposes:

• ornamentation
• identification (i.e. religious symbols, sexual symbols, symbols of rock bands)
• protection (i.e. amulets, religious symbols)
• self-affirmation (i.e. initials, names)
• ostentation (i.e. jewels).
• award (i.e Scouting Ireland Chief Scout's Award, Order of CúChulainn)

These purposes can be combined (i.e. a richly jewelled symbol).

Other meanings

• A teach pendant is a portable control device used in industrial robotics.
• A cable pendant is one of a series of cables that is horizontally suspended across a flight deck of aircraft carriers for aircraft to land by catching with tailhook.
• A nautical pendant is a length of cable or rope, usually of a short length, that has eyes or fittings, or both, at the ends for attachment to vessels and bollards or buoys.
• A pendant is a common item used in hypnosis.