mullet

noun

mul·​let ˈmə-lət 

plural mullet or mullets

1

: any of a family (Mugilidae) of chiefly marine bony fishes with an elongated rather stout body compare goatfish, red mullet

2

[perhaps short for mullethead blockhead] : a hairstyle in which the hair is short on the sides and top and long at the back

Illustration of mullet

• mullet 1

Examples of mullet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To close out a busy Day 2, the Steelers selected a mauling guard with a mullet, who will come to a city where that haircut never went out of style. —Mike Defabo, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

Artist James Hillier, who goes by the moniker Nordacious, started drawing on his iPad, capturing Farnham’s blond mullet and slices of watermelon – a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026

Plus, his mullet is magnificent. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

The actress debuted a new mullet shag cut at the show on Saturday. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English molet, from Anglo-French mulet, from Latin mullus red mullet, from Greek myllos

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mullet

• red mullet

Rhymes for mullet

• gullet
• rivulet

Kids Definition

mullet

noun

mul·​let ˈməl-ət 

plural mullet or mullets

: any of a family of mostly gray food fishes chiefly of salt water compare red mullet