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

Among the puppets available is a Pee-wee’s Playhouse dinosaur, which is an original wire-armature and foam puppet. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

Peppino Mazzullo, the Italian actor who provided the voice for the mouse puppet Topo Gigio, best known for his frequent, funny appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, died Wednesday. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

But behind all this commitment to the well-known — if refreshed-by-puppets — bit is a wistfulness and a feistiness that turn this revival into something stranger and more poignant than even, perhaps, its creators intended. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026

The presentation features production puppets, fabrication insights and techniques, plus a live Q&A. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Sep. 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