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 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

ˈbu̇-lə-təd 

 also  ˈbə-

adjective

Synonyms

• ball
• 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 former president attended the first three nights of the convention wearing a white bandage over his ear that was grazed by a bullet, which prompted some attendees to wear their own fake bandages over their ears. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 18 July 2024

That Donald Trump is alive today is only a result of sheer luck — a bullet that missed by less than an inch, a head tilt at the right split second. —The Editors, National Review, 17 July 2024

Trump was struck in the ear by a live bullet during a July 13 rally in Butler, Pa. after a gunman opened fire from an elevated position outside the venue, the U.S. Secret Service confirmed. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 16 July 2024

The bullet that killed Hutchins was a Starline brass cartridge with a silver primer. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2024

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

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