puppet

noun

pup·​pet ˈpə-pət 

often attributive

1

a

: a small-scale figure (as of a person or animal) usually with a cloth body and hollow head that fits over and is moved by the hand

b

: marionette

2

: doll sense 1

3

: one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence

a puppet ruler

puppetlike

ˈpə-pət-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms

• doll

Examples of puppet in a Sentence

a dictator who was perceived as being an American puppet

gave her a puppet with strings for a gift

Recent Examples on the Web

Billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians have taken over our state and our country, rigging the system for themselves. —Olivia Osteen, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025

Naturally, this is not new territory for the Pinocchio filmmaker, with the tale of the transforming wooden puppet a decidedly not-for-children adaptation on which ShadowMachine’s stop motion studio also served as the production’s home base. —Natalie Sitek, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025

Over the next five years, the series ― with a cast of puppet characters led by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy ― was shown in over 100 countries. —Rebecca 'becca' Dyer, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Even seeing the animatronic puppets waiting to strike in the shadows was scary. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English popet youth, doll, from Middle French poupette, diminutive of *poupe doll, from Vulgar Latin *puppa, alteration of Latin pupa

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing puppet

• glove puppet
• hand puppet
• puppet regime
• sock puppet

Kids Definition

puppet

noun

pup·​pet ˈpəp-ət 

1

: a doll moved by hand or by strings or wires

2

: doll sense 1

3

: a person or a government whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence