: 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
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
: an infant's hooded garment made of napped fabric
Examples of bunting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024
For the rest of Europe, meanwhile, these are the glorious, hazy days before the carnival begins — a time filled with bunting and sticker albums, stirring television montages, speculative lineups and sweet nostalgia.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 7 June 2024
On Wednesday evening, the celebrations began at the gate with blue and white Scottish bunting, beef stew, and shortbread cookies welcoming travelers.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2024
Each leg creates a lip ideal for showing off your seasonal tea towel collection or fastening festive bunting for holiday celebrations.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2024
Flimsy shopping bags hang from the branches of skinny trees like colorful bunting, and empty champagne bottles litter the earth.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 7 May 2024
Fans peered over the Western Metal Supply Co.’s bunting in left and lounged on blankets beyond center.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
It’s-still-Marlins Park-to-me had the requisite Opening Day trappings of red, white and blue bunting, a military jets flyover and the ceremonial introductions of the full rosters of Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates along the baselines.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Make sure the room the patriotic bunting is stored in is dry and climate-controlled.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
The event is scheduled to take place at the home of health insurance company co-founder John Word and his wife, Kimberly, whose home appeared to be decorated with red, white and blue bunting across the seawall and along doors and windows on the property.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024
For the rest of Europe, meanwhile, these are the glorious, hazy days before the carnival begins — a time filled with bunting and sticker albums, stirring television montages, speculative lineups and sweet nostalgia.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 7 June 2024
On Wednesday evening, the celebrations began at the gate with blue and white Scottish bunting, beef stew, and shortbread cookies welcoming travelers.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2024
Each leg creates a lip ideal for showing off your seasonal tea towel collection or fastening festive bunting for holiday celebrations.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2024
Flimsy shopping bags hang from the branches of skinny trees like colorful bunting, and empty champagne bottles litter the earth.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 7 May 2024
Fans peered over the Western Metal Supply Co.’s bunting in left and lounged on blankets beyond center.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
It’s-still-Marlins Park-to-me had the requisite Opening Day trappings of red, white and blue bunting, a military jets flyover and the ceremonial introductions of the full rosters of Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates along the baselines.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Make sure the room the patriotic bunting is stored in is dry and climate-controlled.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bunting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Bunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bunting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bunting
1 of 2 noun
bun·ting
ˈbənt-iŋ 
: any of various finches that are similar to sparrows in size and habits but have stout bills
bunting
2 of 2 noun1
: 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)"
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