bunt

¹ American  

[buhnt] / bʌnt /

verb (used with object)

1. Baseball. to bat (a pitched ball) very gently so that it rolls into the infield close to home plate, usually by holding the bat loosely in hands spread apart and allowing the ball to bounce off it.

2. (of a goat or calf) to push with the horns or head; butt.

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verb (used without object)

1. Baseball. to bunt a ball.

2. to push (something) with the horns or head.

noun

1. Baseball.

   1. the act of bunting.

   2. a bunted ball.

2. a push with the head or horns; butt.

bunt ² American  

[buhnt] / bʌnt /

noun

1. Nautical. the middle part of a square sail.

2. the bagging part of a fishing net or bagging middle area of various cloth objects.

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bunt ³ American  

[buhnt] / bʌnt /

noun

Plant Pathology.

1. a smut disease of wheat in which the kernels are replaced by the black, foul-smelling spores of fungi of the genus Tilletia.

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bunt ¹ British  

/ bʌnt /

verb

1. (of an animal) to butt (something) with the head or horns

2. to cause (an aircraft) to fly in part of an inverted loop or (of an aircraft) to fly in such a loop

3. (in baseball) to hit (a pitched ball) very gently

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noun

1. the act or an instance of bunting

bunt ² British  

/ bʌnt /

noun

1. nautical the baggy centre of a fishing net or other piece of fabric, such as a square sail

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bunt ³ British  

/ bʌnt /

noun

1. a disease of cereal plants caused by smut fungi (genus Tilletia )

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Other Word Forms

• bunted adjective
• bunter noun

Etymology

Origin of bunt¹

First recorded in 1760–70; originally British dialect (central and south England): “to push, strike”; origin uncertain

Origin of bunt²

First recorded in 1575–85; origin uncertain

Origin of bunt³

First recorded in 1595–1605; origin uncertain

Explanation

To bunt is to hit a baseball in a deliberately light way, without swinging. Some players bunt so that another runner can get from second to third base. The bunt is a rarely-used technique in baseball. When a batter bunts, the ball doesn't travel far — there's basically no chance that a bunt will result in a home run, for example. It forces the fielders to run forward, which can sometimes be an advantage for the team that's at bat. The earliest meaning of bunt, "to strike with the head or horns" is probably an early variation on butt, with the baseball meaning arising in the 19th century.

Example Sentences

Take the first big turning point of this postseason: The iconic “wheel play” the Dodgers ran to defend a bunt in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the National League Division Series.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2025

They mainly hate it because over time, teams that sacrifice bunt score less than teams that don’t.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started the inning by pulling a 96.9-mph fastball for a double and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2025

After the bunt, the Dodgers put Addison Barger on with a walk, setting up the double play, the Jays hit a ground ball, and well, you know the rest…Dodgers win.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

Genie put one foot forward, holding the shovel as if it were a baseball bat and he was about to attempt the worst bunt in history.

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds