bullet

noun, often attributive bul·let \ ˈbu̇-lət also ˈbə- \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of bullet

1 : a round or elongated missile (as of lead) to be fired from a firearm; broadly : cartridge 1a

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

play \-lə-təd\ adjective

See bullet defined for English-language learners

See bullet defined for kids

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 of bullet from the Web

Dent, who once represented Florence Ballard of the The Supremes, was gunned down by the bullets of three officers in the court.

— bill laitner, Detroit Free Press, "Former Detroit judge, activist James Del Rio dies at age 94," 12 Apr. 2018
The bullet went through a cardboard box, two table covers and a metal cane, then struck the leg of the 51-year-old holding the cane and the leg of a 64-year-old man standing nearby.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Ada County lifts moratorium on gun shows at Expo Idaho | Idaho Statesman," 11 Apr. 2018
Later, detectives matched the bullets found at the scenes of the May 7 and May 21 shootings to a gun found in the car Williams and Jones were fatally shot.

— marie simoneaux, NOLA.com, "Victims of 2017 homicide were involved in feud with accused Mardi Gras CBD shooters: NOPD," 10 Apr. 2018
Trainer shot Sterling as the motorcyclist struck the passenger-side door of the police cruiser, the bullets striking him in the neck and back.

— peter hermann, Washington Post, "D.C. officer who fatally shot motorcyclist faces administrative hearing," 9 Apr. 2018
The product bullets are slim so those who tend to accidentally color outside their lip lines will have better control over where the lipstick goes.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "This Clean-Beauty Brand Created Its First Lipstick," 6 Apr. 2018
Four or five of the eight bullets fired at Mcneill tore through his left arm, wrecking the system of bone, tendon, muscle, blood vessels and nerves that make his hand work.

— meredith cohn, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore police officer spends four years recovering from gunshots in hope of returning to duty," 5 Apr. 2018
After finding a parking ticket lashed to his windshield, Seattle resident Dan Lear normally would have bitten the bullet and paid up, even though he felt misled by street signage.

— teke wiggin, Recode, "Lawyer bots take the hassle out of fighting parking tickets and property taxes — and could cost local governments real revenue," 5 Apr. 2018
Defense experts disagree, contending the bullet broke into multiple fragments.

— the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "Tonya Harding to be on 'Dancing with the Stars,' report says," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bullet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bullet

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1579

See Words from the same year

bullet Synonyms

Synonyms

ball, pellet;

Near Antonyms

blank;

Financial Definition of BULLET

bullet

noun

What It Is

Bullet is usually short for bullet payment, which is typically a large payment made near the end of a loan that does not amortize over time.

How It Works

Unlike a loan whose total cost (interest and principal) is amortized – that is, paid incrementally during the life of the loan -- a bullet loan's principal is paid in one sum at the end of the term. That sum is called the bullet. Sometimes the interest is collected as part of the bullet payment as well, though in many cases the loan is interest-only during the term of the loan with only the outstanding principal due at the end.

Suppose someone takes out a loan for $1,000 that must be repaid in one year at an interest rate of 10% compounded annually. If the loan has a bullet, this person would have to pay $1,100 ($1,000 in principal plus $100 in interest) in one payment at the end of one year.

Why It Matters

Loans with bullets have the advantage of not having to immediately begin paying back the loan. This can be preferable for companies that do not anticipate having enough cash flow in the near future. The borrower must, however, be prepared to repay the principal and interest in its entirety at the end of the term.

Source: Investing Answers

BULLET Defined for English Language Learners

bullet

noun

Definition of bullet for English Language Learners

: a small piece of metal or another material that is shot out of a gun
: a large dot in a document, book, etc., that brings attention to separate pieces of information in a list
sports : a hit or thrown ball or puck that is moving very fast