bunting

1 of 3

noun (1)

bun·​ting ˈbən-tiŋ How to pronounce bunting (audio)
: any of various stout-billed passerine birds (families Cardinalidae and Emberizidae) of which some are grouped with the cardinal and some with the New World sparrows compare indigo bunting, painted bunting

bunting

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a lightweight loosely woven fabric used chiefly for flags and festive decorations
2
a
: flags
b
: decorations especially in the colors of the national flag

bunting

3 of 3

noun (3)

: an infant's hooded garment made of napped fabric

Examples of bunting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Fairchild was asking the question to Brett Butler, the former big-league outfielder and the Babe Ruth of bunting. C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 Brett Kay doesn’t care that bunting in Major League Baseball has gone the way of the rotary telephone. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025 Out-of-towners streamed in by train and Model-Ts, packing hotels draped with bunting and pennants of the two storied rivals. Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 13 Dec. 2024 Back at their Russian bases, some of the pilots have been treated to welcome home fanfares with big bands and bunting. Jeffrey A. Stacey, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2016 See All Example Sentences for bunting

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

perhaps from English dialect bunt (to sift)

Noun (3)

term of endearment in the nursery rhyme "Bye, baby bunting"

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bunting was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Bunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bunting. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

bunting

1 of 2 noun
bun·​ting ˈbənt-iŋ How to pronounce bunting (audio)
: any of various finches that are similar to sparrows in size and habits but have stout bills

bunting

2 of 2 noun
1
: a thin cloth used chiefly for making flags and patriotic decorations
2
: flags or decorations made of bunting
Etymology

Noun

Middle English buntynge "bunting"

Noun

possibly derived from a dialect word bunt "to sift (meal)"

More from Merriam-Webster on bunting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!