mallet

noun

mal·​let ˈma-lət 

: a hammer with a typically barrel-shaped head: such as

a

: a tool with a large head for driving another tool or for striking a surface without marring it

b

: a long-handled wooden implement used for striking a ball (as in polo or croquet)

c

: a light hammer with a small rounded or spherical usually padded head used in playing certain musical instruments (such as a vibraphone)

Examples of mallet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 34-year-old Holiday dealt with multiple injuries during the regular season, including a mallet finger ailment that has forced him to play with a cast on his right pinky since early March. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2025

Flames erupt as downstairs, Kate grabs the mallet and gives Joe a matching blow to the head. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025

The neuronal structures sit on a mesh of electrodes, which capture neural signals to send to the mallets. —Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025

The Johnnies, notoriously secretive about their uniforms, made their entrance costumed as the tournament's grass croquet courts, complete with mini wickets, mallets, balls and clips. —Tyrone Turner, NPR, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maillet, from Anglo-French, diminutive of mail hammer — more at maul

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mallet

• alate
• ballot
• fallot
• palate
• palette
• pallet
• shallot

Kids Definition

mallet

noun

mal·​let ˈmal-ət 

: a hammer usually with a barrel-shaped head: as

a

: one with a large head used for driving a tool (as a chisel) or for striking a surface without damaging it

b

: a club for striking a ball (as in croquet or polo)