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

• 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

The real reason is to wreak as much havoc as humanly possible, or at least that’s what we’re given to believe from the way the hostess swans about while deftly manipulating dozens of puppet strings simultaneously. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025

DePriest won a full drama scholarship to the University of Oklahoma and after college acted on stages in Dallas and hosted two local TV shows, Ladies First and Maggie and Her Friends, a kids program with puppets. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025

A number of the puppets featured in Fraggle Rock — like Uncle Traveling Matt and Doozer — are also up for auction, with each estimated to fetch at least $40,000. —Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

How was using the puppet on set with the actors? —Andrew McGowan, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025

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