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

When the music did start, with only two band members in tow (and some occasional backing tracks), that drummer mostly used mallets, and stuck toward accents more than beats, to keep things to the hushed mode she’s known for. —Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026

If your grocery store does not have cutlets readily available, use regular chicken breasts and slice them in half, then use a mallet to flatten them lightly. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026

Using a large mallet, the magician hammers the automaton, played in the film by a real-life human actor, into smaller and smaller sizes. —G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2026

To achieve this, place the breasts, one at a time, in a resealable plastic bag or between two sheets of parchment, and gently pound them with a meat mallet, rolling pin, or potato masher until evenly flattened. —John Becker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Jan. 2026

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)