puppeteer

American  

[puhp-i-teer] / ˌpʌp ɪˈtɪər /

noun

1. a person who manipulates puppets, as in a puppet show.

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verb (used without object)

1. to work as a puppeteer, by making puppets perform.

puppeteer British  

/ ˌpʌpɪˈtɪə /

noun

1. a person who manipulates puppets

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Etymology

Origin of puppeteer

First recorded in 1925–30; puppet + -eer

Explanation

A puppeteer is a person who works a puppet, making it move and appear to talk. A puppeteer might do this by putting her hand inside the puppet and moving its arms and head. Puppets come in many different shapes, sizes, and styles, and they all need at least one puppeteer to operate them. Marionettes are puppets with strings, attached to parts of their bodies, that are worked from overhead by puppeteers. Hand puppets are manipulated from below, and some giant puppets require several puppeteers to move their limbs and heads. The Middle English root word is popet, "doll," from the Latin word pupa, "doll or girl."

Example Sentences

The device, which can feel like being under the control of a puppeteer, requires manual downhill mode activation and poses risks if handled improperly.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

The first time I wore them, the contraption felt like a puppeteer controlling my legs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Bob Baker, founded in 1963 by its namesake puppeteer, now attracts more than 145,000 audience members per year, including about 20,000 students via school field trips.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

For James, who is the voice of Paddington and remote puppeteer, he said "being a massive gamer" helped him learn how to operate Paddington's facial expressions perfectly.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

I went further than forgiving the clerk, I accepted her as a fellow victim of the same puppeteer.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou