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

Spectators crowded the sidelines, cheering intensely for their team with each thwack of the croquet mallet. —Tyrone Turner, NPR, 12 Apr. 2025

Use It To Help Flatten Chicken Breasts Before pounding any meat to create cutlets, use wax paper in between it and your mallet to help avoid any unwanted stickiness and keep it in place. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2025

The 34-year-old Holiday dealt with multiple injuries during the regular season, including a mallet finger ailment that has forced him to play with a cast on his right pinky since early March. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2025

Flames erupt as downstairs, Kate grabs the mallet and gives Joe a matching blow to the head. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 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)