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

These bois pair their six-packs with tight suede fringe, animal-print leggings, and mullets. —Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026

Macca's – as Kiwis often refer to the chain – decided to lean in to the online buzz with its own mullet content, like a video trying to mullet other menu items. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 May 2026

Not so Hegseth, whose hair has been a mullet here, a Cruella de Vil streak there, until locking into full helmet-head mode. —Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026

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

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