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

Chaos reigns in the studio as ballerinas, toy soldiers, and puppets scatter across the screen. —Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025

Give your total trust and be a happy puppet. —Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

Find giant puppets and family activities from the Multicultural Artists Guild at the children’s museum; the art museum will offer sugar skull-decorating, dance and music. —Lisa Hix, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025

Set, costume and puppet design will be by Little Angel associate director Oliver Hyman, who recently won a special Fringe Theatre Award for exceptional services to puppetry. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 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