ricochet

noun ric·o·chet \ ˈri-kə-ˌshā , British also -ˌshet \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Examples: ricochet in a Sentence

Definition of ricochet

: a glancing rebound (as of a projectile off a flat surface)

the ricochet of the bullet off the wall

; also : an object that ricochets

He was hit by a ricochet.

See ricochet defined for English-language learners

See ricochet defined for kids

Examples of ricochet in a Sentence

He was hit by a ricochet.
the ricochet of the bullet off the wall

Recent Examples of ricochet from the Web

The premiere's music ricochets between recognizable favorites, like Houston's anthem and Chaka Khan, to the '70s disco of the balls, to Kate Bush's crooning.

— refinery29.com, "Inside The Secrets Of Pose's Exuberant '80s Soundtrack," 7 June 2018
After review, the ricochet off Stastny’s glove was deemed a good goal and the Jets took a 1-0 lead.

— kristen nelson, SI.com, "Stanley Cup Playoff Roundup: Capitals Edge Penguins; Jets Roll Past Predators," 6 May 2018
The ricochet of information followed a familiar pattern during the Trump presidency, as the White House and its allies push back against the sprawling investigations into Russian meddling.

— marshall cohen, CNN, "Five times an incendiary pro-Trump claim on Russia fell flat," 19 May 2018
The evidence also showed that there was no possibility of ricochet and that the gun was fired about a foot away from Mitchell.

— david owens, courant.com, "Judge Shaves Four Years Off Simsbury Man's 50-Year Sentence For Murder," 24 Apr. 2018
The other involved a young hunter who fired at a rabbit from an elevated blind and the .22 caliber bullet hit, perhaps as a ricochet, and killed another young person who was about 150 yards away, walking unseen toward the blind.

— shannon thompkins, San Antonio Express-News, "There’s safety in numbers for Texas’ hunters," 8 Mar. 2018
One of those completions—a 33-yarder that Freddie Swain caught off a ricochet—probably should have been an interception but instead led to a touchdown.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Florida's Quarterback Controversy Is Over, but There's No Less Pressure on Feleipe Franks," 3 Oct. 2017
Webb hauled in the ricochet and returned it to the Bengals’ 2-yard line.

— jeff zrebiec, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens defense dominates Bengals, posts team's first shutout since November 2009," 10 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ricochet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ricochet

French

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First Known Use: 1740

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

ricochet

verb

Definition of ricochet

ricocheted play \ˈri-kə-ˌshād\ also ricochetted play \ˈri-kə-ˌshe-təd\; ricocheting play \ˈri-kə-ˌshā-iŋ\ also ricochetting play \ˈri-kə-ˌshe-tiŋ\

intransitive verb

: to bounce or skip with or as if with a glancing rebound

The bullet that hit President Reagan had ricocheted off the presidential limousine.
—David Fisher

The ball ricochets at a right angle, falling with force into the first baseman's glove …
—Bob Drury

The chute snaps open, the sound ricocheting through the gorge like a gunshot, and McGuire is soaring, carving S turns into the air, swooping over a winding creek.
—Karl Taro Greenfeld