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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

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

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

There were bunting and street parties, commemorative plates in the shops and historical art projects in the schools.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

It shows a harbour littered with lobster boxes and boats bobbing in the water, as well as colourful bunting along the dark streets of St Amelia.

From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026

Santa Margarita’s Brody Schumaker, who had eight bunt singles last season, will be asked by his father, Skip, the new manager of the Texas Rangers, to show off his bunting skills at spring training.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2025

On this night, with the Lincolns present, red, white, and blue bunting is draped over the railing and a portrait of George Washington faces out.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly

At 5-3 up, Bunting started with six perfect darts to raise hopes of a nine-darter to clinch it but had to settle for finishing off a fabulous display in 12.

From BBC ● May 21, 2026

Elsewhere in the tournament, world number two Luke Humphries exited in the third round 6-5 to Max Hopp, while Premier League Darts players Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock fell in the first round.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 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

Victory takes Clayton, who began the evening in third, three points above Luke Littler after the world champion was beaten by Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals and failed to add to his points tally.

From BBC ● Apr. 9, 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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