noun
puppet
PUH-piht
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."
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."
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
Word Forms
puppeted past tense, puppets plural, puppets singular
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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.