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

Brian Henson’s adventurous stage show featuring improv and sketch comedy with the iconic Henson puppets and puppeteers is back for a limited eight-performance run. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Last season ended with Kanan putting a gun to Raq in response to those deaths, when the truth is that Snaps and Pop are the puppet masters behind it all. — Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026

Does a dummy need to have strings to be a puppet, or does a puppet need to have a moving mouth to be a dummy? — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Project Hail Mary aside, though, Ortiz is probably most known for his Off-Broadway creation, The Woodsman, which earned him a 2016 Obie Award for puppet design. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 July 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