noun B1 Intermediate Common

bullet

BUU-liht

Bullet (noun) means a small metal projectile fired from a gun. Example: “The bullet lodged in the wooden door frame.”

noun

A small metal projectile fired from a gun.

"The bullet lodged in the wooden door frame."

"Police found several spent bullets at the scene."

A small dot or symbol used to mark items in a list.

"Each bullet on the slide summarised one key point."

verb

To fire someone from a job abruptly (informal).

"He got bulleted after just two months on the job."

How to Use Bullet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the metal projectile fired from a gun, or the dot used to mark a list item.

Common pairings

fire a bullet bullet point dodge a bullet

Word Forms

bulleted past tense, bullets plural, bullets singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “bullet” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ lodged in the wooden door frame.

Etymology

From Old French boulette, diminutive of boule, "ball" — the projectile is named after its rounded shape.

Origin: Old French

Rhymes for bullet

gullet mullet

See all rhymes for bullet →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “bullet” mean?

The word “bullet” means a small metal projectile fired from a gun. In plain terms, either the metal projectile fired from a gun, or the dot used to mark a list item.

How do you pronounce “bullet”?

“Bullet” is pronounced BUU-liht (/ˈbʊlɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “bullet” in a sentence?

Here is “bullet” used in a sentence: “The bullet lodged in the wooden door frame.”

What part of speech is “bullet”?

Depending on how it is used, “bullet” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “bullet” come from?

The word “bullet” comes from Old French. From Old French boulette, diminutive of boule, "ball" — the projectile is named after its rounded shape.

Is “bullet” a common word?

“Bullet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “bullet” have?

“Bullet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small metal projectile fired from a gun.

Featured In

Vocabulary lists that include bullet:

Words With French Origins