puppetry

American  

[puhp-i-tree] / ˈpʌp ɪ tri /

noun

plural

puppetries

1. the art of making puppets or presenting puppet shows.

2. the action of puppets.

3. mummery; mere show.

4. puppets collectively.

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puppetry British  

/ ˈpʌpɪtrɪ /

noun

1. the art of making and manipulating puppets and presenting puppet shows

2. unconvincing or specious presentation

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Etymology

Origin of puppetry

First recorded in 1520–30; puppet, -ry

Explanation

If you make puppets or put on puppet shows — either as a hobby or a paid job — you practice the art of puppetry. If you draw a face on an old sock, put it on your hand, and make it act out dramatic scenes, that's puppetry. You may think of puppetry as kids' stuff, but people around the world consider it a valid form of theater. Puppetry has existed since at least the fifth century BCE, and it takes many forms. There's Japanese bunraku, in which puppeteers dressed in black maneuver wooden puppets against a black background. Italy is famous for inventing marionettes, highly complex puppets on strings. "The Muppet Show" and "Sesame Street" are also perfect examples of great puppetry in action.

Example Sentences

The Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas — There’s dancing, illusions, puppetry and acrobatics on full display in “The Awakening,” a visually striking production at Wynn Las Vegas.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

Diane Paulus directs the production that includes puppetry by Basil Twist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

The museum recently held an event themed around the Belgian character Tintin, as well as other shadow puppetry shows.

From Barron's • Nov. 3, 2025

Azizi has also taken a puppetry class and participated in the Junior Theater Festival.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2025

It seems to me that this is an ancient form of puppetry, a puppetry that came into being in days before the time of Christ.

From Voices from the Past by Bartlett, Paul Alexander