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

The freshman surrendered her lone hit in the ensuing frame off of a bunt single, and recovered by striking out two more batters. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 23 May 2026

Hoerner, a two-time Gold Glove winner, charged on Salazar’s bunt. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026

Verb

Eddie Ritchie bunted Harvey to second, and pinch-hitter Brody Alves connected for an RBI single off Lonardo to reclaim the lead. —Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026

Leading off the sixth inning Sunday, Lewis unsuccessfully tried to bunt for a hit twice, fouling off both pitches. —Dan Hayes, New York Times, 18 May 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