bullet

noun

bul·​let ˈbu̇-lət How to pronounce bullet (audio)
 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 How to pronounce bullet (audio)
 also  ˈbə-
adjective

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 bullet removed from that burro was fired from Arnet’s rifle, prosecutors said. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Gutierrez Reed faces up to 18 months in prison for negligently loading a live bullet into Alec Baldwin‘s gun and causing the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 The bullet lacerated Jenkins’ tongue, broke his jaw and went out through his neck. Emma Tucker, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Witnesses and hospital officials said many of the casualties were from bullet wounds. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2024 Lin pulled a gun and fired, the bullet fracturing Liu’s hipbone, according to court documents. Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024 If this is a little too slow for your taste, rig a seedless worm like the Zoom Speed Worm with a 1/16th-ounce bullet weight at the nose. Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 13 Mar. 2024 Each had been bleeding, apparently from bullet wounds. Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Ballistics matched the bullet that killed Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a 43-year-old Johnson County mother of two and popular disc jockey, to the one possessed by Miller, authorities allege. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bullet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bullet was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near bullet

Cite this Entry

“Bullet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bullet. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bullet

noun
bul·​let ˈbu̇l-ət How to pronounce bullet (audio)
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 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

More from Merriam-Webster on bullet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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