mullet

noun

mul·​let ˈmə-lət How to pronounce mullet (audio)
plural mullet or mullets
1
: any of a family (Mugilidae) of chiefly marine bony fishes with an elongate 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

Illustration of mullet
  • mullet 1

Examples of mullet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many prescription medications are not like mullets or fruitcakes. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025 At thirty-two, Luckey embodies the stereotype of a cocky, gnomic tech mogul: shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, flip-flops, a mullet and a soul patch. Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025 Sydney The White Lotus would do well on the large island of mullets and koalas and things that want to kill you. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025 On August 1, the 29-year-old actor best known for her role in 13 Reasons Why revealed an unreasonably cool pixie mullet on Instagram, courtesy of celebrity hair stylist Halley Brisker. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mullet

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mullet was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Mullet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mullet. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

mullet

noun
mul·​let ˈməl-ət How to pronounce mullet (audio)
plural mullet or mullets
: any of a family of mostly gray food fishes chiefly of salt water compare red mullet

More from Merriam-Webster on mullet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!