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 Reverso watch was made especially for polo players who could flip the case to protect the dial from the swinging wooden mallets, and fast-flying balls. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2025

Despite playing with a cast on his right pinky for the last three weeks, Holiday is shooting 38.6% from deep since returning from his mallet finger injury and 9-for-13 over his last two games. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 Apr. 2025

In the films, West’s son Saint is shown in a wrestling ring, using a mallet to fend off aggressors over the course of 30 minutes. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025

With Ayres’ hands at the mallets, the vibes were remolded into a tool of spacy musical exploration. —Karina Tsui, CNN, 6 Mar. 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)