To save this word, you'll need to log in.
mul·li·gan | \ ˈmə-li-gən 
\
\Definition of mulligan
: a free shot sometimes given a golfer in informal play when the previous shot was poorly played
Examples of mulligan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web In recent weeks, as some local Republicans advocated for San Antonio to take a mulligan on an RNC bid, the issues were more complex.
—
Gilbert Garcia, ExpressNews.com, "Garcia: Republican convention wasn’t going to fly in San Antonio," 13 June 2020 Louisville’s municipal golf course scramble continued Wednesday, with city lawmakers taking a mulligan on whether to exclude two longtime golf pros from managing courses this year.
—
Alfred Miller, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville metro lawmakers give nod to some golf contracts, but pass on others," 5 Feb. 2020 Gust was a bit emotional but mainly drained from walking 54 holes over three days in early August with no mulligans or gimmes.
—
Teddy Greenstein, chicagotribune.com, "Jealous golfers wanted Lisa Simpson to quit because she kept winning Park Ridge Country Club championships. Mike Ditka told her to ‘keep beating their ass.’," 4 Aug. 2019 Card draw is incredibly important, and the lack of a proper mulligan rule is a bit shocking.
—
Charlie Theel, Ars Technica, "Unmatched: Battle of Legends," 14 Dec. 2019 Golfer’s Package is $20 and includes two mulligans, one Magic Putt and 10 opportunity drawing tickets.
—
Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Encinitas offers accounting workshop for business owners," 19 Sep. 2019 Golfers can also purchase mulligans (proceeds benefit Pro Kids, an organization aimed at serving underserved youth).
—
Jeff Sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Fall's Links at Petco Park tee times available Wednesday," 5 Sep. 2017 Everyone gamely took a shot at answering, although Klobuchar, Sanders and Biden essentially took a mulligan by mentioning their closeness to John McCain (the one Republican who didn't inspire visceral hatred on the part of Democrats).
—
Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "Critic's Notebook: Elizabeth Warren Takes a Turn in the Hot Seat at Democratic Debate," 16 Oct. 2019 No one’s sure what’s going on and there’s not a soul in Atlanta who wouldn’t go back to halftime of Super Bowl LI and take a mulligan.
—
Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, "Stephanie Stradley’s Texans-Falcons Q&A with Knox Bardeen," 4 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mulligan.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on mulligan
What made you want to look up mulligan? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share mulligan
Time Traveler for mulligan
The first known use of mulligan was in 1931
See more words from the same year