puppet

noun

pup·​pet ˈpə-pət 

often attributive

1

a

: a small-scale figure (as of a person or animal) usually with a cloth body and hollow head that fits over and is moved by the hand

b

: marionette

2

: doll sense 1

3

: one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence

a puppet ruler

puppetlike

ˈpə-pət-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms of puppet

• doll

Examples of puppet in a Sentence

a dictator who was perceived as being an American puppet

gave her a puppet with strings for a gift

Recent Examples on the Web

Stephanie Divinski looks down at her shoulder puppet. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

Chikamatsu Monzaemon, who wrote the piece for Japan’s Bunraku puppet theater, lived during Japan’s 18th century isolationist Tokugawa period and is believed to have never read Shakespeare, who had penned the similar love story decades before Chikamatsu. —ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

On the weekends, there are pony rides outside the Cinema dei Piccoli, but the real highlight is the San Carlino theater on Viale dei Bambini—which literally translates to 'Kids' Street'—where there’s an ever-changing roster of Italian puppet shows. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026

The robotic Olaf regularly appears in a boat show in the World of Frozen at the Disneyland Paris resort when he’s not replaced by a puppet, according to WDW News Today. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English popet youth, doll, from Middle French poupette, diminutive of *poupe doll, from Vulgar Latin *puppa, alteration of Latin pupa

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing puppet

• glove puppet
• hand puppet
• puppet regime
• sock puppet

Kids Definition

puppet

noun

pup·​pet ˈpəp-ət 

1

: a doll moved by hand or by strings or wires

2

: doll sense 1

3

: a person or a government whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence