marionette

American  

[mar-ee-uh-net] / ˌmær i əˈnɛt /

noun

1. a puppet manipulated from above by strings attached to its jointed limbs.

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marionette British  

/ ˌmærɪəˈnɛt /

noun

1. an articulated puppet or doll whose jointed limbs are moved by strings

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Etymology

Origin of marionette

1610–20; < French marionnette, equivalent to Marion (diminutive of Marie Mary) + -ette -ette

Explanation

Use the noun marionette to describe a puppet that's manipulated with strings from above a stage. You might see a marionette show at a child's birthday party. A marionette is a very specific kind of puppet, one that's operated with sticks and wires or strings that move its arms, legs, and head in a nearly lifelike way. Marionettes have been around for centuries, at least since the ancient Greeks used them around 500 BC. The word marionette means "little little Mary" in French, a reference to one of the earliest known marionette characters, a puppet version of the Virgin Mary.

Example Sentences

“Interestingly enough, when I was growing up, there was a touring marionette theater of Richardson that was one of the first places that excited me towards puppets,” Ortiz recalls.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Fashion and culture magazine Dazed said it "captured the public's imagination with its broken marionette looks and Pat McGrath's glassy, porcelain make-up".

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2024

At one point, he seems to become a marionette: the vertical line of the microphone stand dividing him in two, with gyrating arms and legs seemingly independent of each other.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 19, 2023

A classic marionette might have eight to 10 strings.

From New York Times • Jul. 12, 2023

When she forced a cheery smile, she took on the appearance of a badly painted marionette.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood