noun
Uncommon
puppet
PUH-piht
Puppet (noun) means a doll-like figure of a person or animal moved by strings, rods, or a hand inside it. Example: “The children laughed as the puppet danced on its strings.”
noun
1
A doll-like figure of a person or animal moved by strings, rods, or a hand inside it.
"The children laughed as the puppet danced on its strings."
"She performed the whole show using hand puppets."
"He made a sock puppet with button eyes and a wide felt mouth."
2
A person, government, or organization that is controlled by another and only appears to act independently.
"Critics called the new regime a puppet government installed by its powerful neighbor."
"The newspaper said the mayor was merely a puppet of the wealthy developers."
"Nobody believed the company's new chairman was anything more than a puppet for its founder."
verb
1
To control or manipulate someone or something as if it were a puppet.
"The board accused him of trying to puppet the committee's decisions."
How to use puppet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA figure controlled by someone else, whether literally (a toy) or figuratively (a person or government being manipulated).
Common pairings
puppet government
puppet show
pull the strings of a puppet
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like puppet.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- puppets
- Third person singular
- puppets
- Past tense
- puppeted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children laughed as the _____ danced on its strings.
Etymology
From Middle French poupette, a diminutive of poupée ("doll"), ultimately from Latin pupa ("doll, girl"). Related to puppy, which comes from the same root.
Related words
Rhymes for puppet
See all rhymes for puppet →Frequently asked questions
What does “puppet” mean?
The word “puppet” means a doll-like figure of a person or animal moved by strings, rods, or a hand inside it. In plain terms, a figure controlled by someone else, whether literally (a toy) or figuratively (a person or government being manipulated).
How do you pronounce “puppet”?
“Puppet” is pronounced PUH-piht (/ˈpʌpɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “puppet” in a sentence?
Here is “puppet” used in a sentence: “The children laughed as the puppet danced on its strings.”
What part of speech is “puppet”?
Depending on how it is used, “puppet” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “puppet” come from?
The word “puppet” comes from Latin. From Middle French poupette, a diminutive of poupée ("doll"), ultimately from Latin pupa ("doll, girl"). Related to puppy, which comes from the same root.
Is “puppet” a common word?
“Puppet” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “puppet” have?
“Puppet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a doll-like figure of a person or animal moved by strings, rods, or a hand inside it.
What is the difference between a puppet and a marionette?
A puppet is the general term for any doll-like figure moved by strings, rods, or a hand inside it. A marionette is specifically a puppet controlled from above by strings or wires attached to its limbs and body.
What does it mean to call a government a puppet government?
A puppet government is one that appears to govern independently but is actually controlled by another government or organization behind the scenes. The term implies the ruling body has little real power of its own.
How is "puppet" used as a verb?
As a verb, "puppet" means to control or manipulate someone or something as though it were a literal puppet. It is used to describe one party secretly directing another's actions.
What is the difference between calling someone a puppet and calling them a pawn?
Both describe someone controlled by another party, but "puppet" emphasizes that the person only appears to act independently while being directed from behind the scenes. "Pawn" more broadly describes someone used to serve another's purpose, without necessarily implying disguised control.
