bullet

noun

bul·​let ˈbu̇-lət 

 also  ˈbə-

often attributive

1

: a round or elongated missile (as of lead) to be fired from a firearm

broadly : cartridge sense a

2

a

: something resembling a bullet (as in curved form)

b

: a large dot placed in printed matter to call attention to a particular passage

3

: a very fast and accurately thrown or hit object (such as a ball or puck)

bulleted

ˈbu̇-lə-təd 

 also  ˈbə-

adjective

Synonyms

• ball
• pellet

Examples of bullet in a Sentence

He was killed by an assassin's bullet.

Bullets were used to separate each item.

The quarterback threw a bullet to the receiver.

Recent Examples on the Web

Anthony Berry, 20, was grazed by a bullet along his upper scalp – an injury that could’ve been more serious if it had been located a centimeter lower, Orlando Health trauma surgeon Joseph Ibrahim said at a Friday news conference. —Dalia Faheid, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024

With guidance from Clint Vince, Rayburn’s outside counsel, who had helped the utility with all of its critical decisions from the time Raymond organized it, the co-op bit the bullet early. —Llewellyn King, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

The three officers returned fire, shooting 32 bullets into the apartment. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2024

His doctors say that to retrieve the bullet could risk causing further damage. —Annabelle Allen, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French boulette small ball & boulet missile, diminutives of boule ball — more at bowl

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bullet

• bite the bullet
• bullet point
• bullet train
• dodge a bullet
• dodge the bullet
• magic bullet
• rubber bullet
• silver bullet

Kids Definition

bullet

noun

bul·​let ˈbu̇l-ət 

1

: a usually cone-shaped lead pellet fixed in the front of a firearms cartridge

2

a

: something like a bullet

b

: a large dot used in print to call attention to a particular passage

3

: a very fast and accurately thrown or hit object (as a ball)

bulleted

-ət-əd 

adjective

Etymology

from early French boulette "small ball" and boulet "something thrown or shot," from boule "ball," from Latin bulla "bubble" — related to boil, bowl