bunt

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbənt 

1

a

: the middle part of a square sail

b

: the part of a furled sail gathered up in a bunch at the center of the yard

2

: the bagging part of a fishing net

bunt

2 of 4

verb

bunted; bunting; bunts

transitive verb

1

: to strike or push with or as if with the head : butt

2

: to push or tap (a baseball) lightly with a bat without swinging

intransitive verb

: to bunt a baseball

bunter noun

bunt

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: an act or instance of bunting

2

: a bunted ball

bunt

4 of 4

noun (3)

: a destructive smut disease of wheat caused by a fungus (genus Tilletia)

Examples of bunt in a Sentence

Verb

The batter bunted for a single.

He bunted the ball toward third base.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Before scoring the winning run, Chandler got on base with a bunt single of his own. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2026

In the bottom of the 5th inning, catcher Ryleigh Hall led off with a triple to center field (the first hit by either team), and scored on a bunt by Roeser Thomas. —Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026

Verb

In the bottom of the fifth, Dressendorfer and Song singled, Spivey bunted them into scoring position. —Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026

Molly Finn added a pair of doubles, while Kasey Cusack bunted home the winning run. —Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps from Low German, bundle, from Middle Low German; akin to Old English byndel bundle

Verb

alteration of butt

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1584, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

circa 1790, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bunt

• drag bunt
• sac bunt
• sacrifice bunt

Rhymes for bunt

• blunt
• brunt
• front
• grunt
• shunt
• stunt
• affront
• confront
• exeunt
• forefront
• lakefront
• manhunt

Kids Definition

bunt

verb

ˈbənt

1

: to strike or push with the horns or head : butt

2

: to push or tap a baseball lightly without swinging the bat

bunt noun

bunter noun