mallet

noun

mal·​let ˈma-lət 

: a hammer with a typically barrel-shaped head: such as

a

: a tool with a large head for driving another tool or for striking a surface without marring it

b

: a long-handled wooden implement used for striking a ball (as in polo or croquet)

c

: a light hammer with a small rounded or spherical usually padded head used in playing certain musical instruments (such as a vibraphone)

Examples of mallet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On a cutting board, lightly pound with a meat mallet to even thickness. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025

In the films, West’s son Saint is shown in a wrestling ring, using a mallet to fend off aggressors over the course of 30 minutes. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025

The film depicts West’s son Saint West in a wrestling ring, taking on hoards of wrestlers by himself, armed with a toy mallet while the album plays in the background. —Ethan Millman, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025

Smashing a watermelon with a giant mallet to the messy delight of audiences, Leo Gallagher became one of the biggest comedy acts of the 1980s and shot to superstardom. —Addie Morfoot, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maillet, from Anglo-French, diminutive of mail hammer — more at maul

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mallet

• alate
• ballot
• fallot
• palate
• palette
• pallet
• shallot

Kids Definition

mallet

noun

mal·​let ˈmal-ət 

: a hammer usually with a barrel-shaped head: as

a

: one with a large head used for driving a tool (as a chisel) or for striking a surface without damaging it

b

: a club for striking a ball (as in croquet or polo)