puppetry

noun

pup·​pet·​ry ˈpə-pə-trē How to pronounce puppetry (audio)
plural puppetries
1
: the production or creation of puppets or puppet shows
2
: the art of manipulating puppets

Examples of puppetry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the film’s most surprising strengths lies in the relationship between Gosling and his alien counterpart, Rocky, brought to life through practical effects and puppetry by stage performer James Ortiz. Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026 Segments with puppetry and behind-the-scenes footage were also included. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026 The puppetry, rudimentary special effects, and unflattering costumes mark it as a distinctly Adult Swim show. Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026 Ortiz, through both his vocals and puppetry, makes Rocky no less emotionally receptive, albeit articulated in different ways. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for puppetry

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of puppetry was in 1528

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Puppetry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puppetry. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on puppetry

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster