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

• action figure
• doll
• dolly
• poppet [Midland]

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

Now in its seventh iteration, the 2025 festival presents puppet artists and companies from across the U.S. and 13 other countries — including, for the first time, China, India and Scotland — at dozens of local venues starting later this week. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025

Meanwhile, Kevin Michael Wesson makes Leonardo a particularly endearing puppet. —Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 12 Jan. 2025

From border narratives that go beyond the immigration debate to coming-of-age quasi-musicals with puppets; from a western that confronts Chile’s dark past to an adaptation of one of Mexico’s most revered novels, 2024 was truly a banner year for Latino and Latin American cinema. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Shari Lewis’s beloved 1960’s lamb puppet has solidified a space in our dog’s lives, from seasonal outfits, to jumbo versions, to tiny birthday hats, and even entire boxes of different sized lambs. —Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024

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