bullet

noun

bul·​let ˈbu̇-lət 

also ˈbə-

often attributive

1

: a round or elongated missile (as of lead) to be fired from a firearm

broadly : cartridge sense a

2

a

: something resembling a bullet (as in curved form)

b

: a large dot placed in printed matter to call attention to a particular passage

3

: a very fast and accurately thrown or hit object (such as a ball or puck)

bulleted

ˈbu̇-lə-təd 

also ˈbə-

adjective

Synonyms of bullet

• ball
• ammunition
• shell
• cartridge
• pellet

Examples of bullet in a Sentence

He was killed by an assassin's bullet.

Bullets were used to separate each item.

The quarterback threw a bullet to the receiver.

Recent Examples on the Web

The person also found damage from a bullet strike inside a bedroom. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Evenepoel’s nickname is the aero-bullet — so named for his ability to tuck into an aerodynamic position, but still generate a huge amount of power. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Nino, meanwhile, clings to his grandfather’s fairy-tale vision of the country as a mythical island, where there are no bullets, no wars, and everyone has electricity at night. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026

The April event, though, was ended abruptly after a gunman attempted to enter the Washington Hilton ballroom by breaching a security checkpoint, with a Secret Service agent struck by a bullet into his protective vest. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French boulette small ball & boulet missile, diminutives of boule ball — more at bowl

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bullet

• bite the bullet
• bullet point
• bullet train
• dodge a bullet
• dodge the bullet
• magic bullet
• rubber bullet
• silver bullet

Rhymes for bullet

• pullet

Kids Definition

bullet

noun

bul·​let ˈbu̇l-ət 

1

: a usually cone-shaped lead pellet fixed in the front of a firearms cartridge

2

a

: something like a bullet

b

: a large dot used in print to call attention to a particular passage

3

: a very fast and accurately thrown or hit object (as a ball)

bulleted

-ət-əd 

adjective

Etymology

from early French boulette "small ball" and boulet "something thrown or shot," from boule "ball," from Latin bulla "bubble" — related to boil, bowl