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• bunting
  bunting

  noun

  a coarse, open fabric of worsted or cotton for flags, signals, etc.
• Bunting
  Bunting

  noun

  Basil . 1900–85, British poet, author of Briggflatts (1966)

bunting

¹ American  

[buhn-ting] / ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

noun

1. a coarse, open fabric of worsted or cotton for flags, signals, etc.

2. patriotic and festive decorations made from such cloth, or from paper, usually in the form of draperies, wide streamers, etc., in the colors of the national flag.

3. flags, especially a vessel's flags, collectively.

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bunting ² American  

[buhn-ting] / ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

noun

1. any of several small, chiefly seed-eating birds of the genera Emberiza, Passerina, and Plectrophenax.

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bunting ³ American  

[buhn-ting] / ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

noun

1. a hooded sleeping garment for infants.

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bunting ¹ British  

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

1. a coarse, loosely woven cotton fabric used for flags, etc

2. decorative flags, pennants, and streamers

3. flags collectively, esp those of a boat

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Bunting ² British  

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

1. Basil . 1900–85, British poet, author of Briggflatts (1966)

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bunting ³ British  

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

1. any of numerous seed-eating songbirds of the families Fringillidae (finches, etc) or Emberizidae , esp those of the genera Emberiza of the Old World and Passerina of North America. They all have short stout bills

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Etymology

Origin of bunting¹

First recorded in 1735–45; origin uncertain; perhaps originally “cloth for sifting,” hence the verb bunt “to sift,” from Middle English bonten + -ing ¹

Origin of bunting²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bunting, bounting, buntyle; further origin unknown

Origin of bunting³

First recorded in 1920–25; special use of bunting ¹

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Explanation

Bunting is a type of loosely woven fabric with a specific purpose: making flags. When you salute a flag, you're saluting bunting. Who knew? Bunting is known for two main features: it is loosely woven, and it is used primarily in making flags. Bunting is strong enough to last, but versatile enough to be perfect in making the intricate designs many flags feature. Before it becomes a flag, bunting makes for splendid decoration when hung or draped festively. Bunting is also a synonym for flag.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bunting Bunting

But when it started working, the idea of bunting caught fire.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

After a generation where bunting was viewed as little more than a quaint relic, players coming up were rarely exposed to them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

In Havana's leafy middle-class Vedado neighborhood, pints at a dollar a pop were flowing at a watch party in a cultural center festooned with a Brazil flag and World Cup bunting.

From Barron's ● Jun. 14, 2026

Lisa Nandy, the Labour culture secretary, is speaking from her Wigan constituency which was proudly festooned with bunting during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

Miles of bunting draped dozens of platforms, where speakers, by virtue of their prestige as men of property or of exceptional eloquence, found themselves called upon to fan the wrath of the people.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

Searle goes on to play Josh Rock, who won the last three legs to edge out Stephen Bunting 6-5.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

"This is good news for mangroves - there are more of them than we thought, and they are showing their resilience," said Dr Pete Bunting from Aberystwyth University, another of the authors.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

Gerwyn Price struggled in his quarter-final against Stephen Bunting but rallied to win and pick up two points that consolidate his place in third.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026

Bunting means willingly giving up one of your 27 outs, the most precious resource that exists in the game.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

“It was only when her wards left the loop that they were killed and Miss Bunting kidnapped. If they’d only stayed put, nothing bad would’ve happened.”

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

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