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

Beyond the music, there are festive parades, workshops for making puppets or gardening, a 5K run, yoga, silent discos and much more. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026

Seeing his grandson suffer, Geppetto (Richard Brake) gifts him a new companion, the titular puppet. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 June 2026

Around 2020, one of the rarest first movie puppets more or less fell into my lap, which really got the wheels spinning hard. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 June 2026

Bird featured John Candy, Chevy Chase and Dave Thomas as well as the marquee puppets. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 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