ricochet

American  

[rik-uh-shey, rik-uh-shey, rik-uh-shet] / ˌrɪk əˈʃeɪ, ˈrɪk əˌʃeɪ, ˈrɪk əˌʃɛt /

noun

1. the motion of an object or a projectile in rebounding or deflecting from a surface one or more times as a result of a glancing blow.

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verb (used without object)

ricocheted, ricocheting, ricochetted, ricochetting

1. to move by rebounding or deflecting from a surface, as a projectile.

   Synonyms:

   glance, deflect, rebound

ricochet British  

/ ˈrɪkəˌʃeɪ, ˈrɪkəˌʃɛt /

verb

1. (intr) (esp of a bullet) to rebound from a surface or surfaces, usually with a characteristic whining or zipping sound

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noun

1. the motion or sound of a rebounding object, esp a bullet

2. an object, esp a bullet, that ricochets

Etymology

Origin of ricochet

First recorded in 1760–70; from French; further origin uncertain

Explanation

A projectile that bounces off another surface is said to ricochet. You missed when you threw your crumpled paper at the wastepaper basket. Instead, the paper ricocheted off the wall and hit your brother on the head. The battle was on! As a noun, ricochet refers to the rebound or to the object that ricochets. If someone shoots a bullet and it ricochets off a tree, you can survive the initial gunfire only to be caught by the ricochet. The word ricochet is from the French word of the same spelling. Because of its French origin, the word is still pronounced with the soft French "shay" sound at the end — not a hard "T."

Example Sentences

Ms. Frank’s unconventional, imaginatively orchestrated score maps their dreamlike journey as they ricochet through different planes of existence, and find resolution together in their love and their art.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

The messages ricochet across an Iowa grocery store, a kind of ambient chorus while, at one of the few remaining manned checkout lines, a cashier squints at his screen.

From Salon • Jan. 3, 2026

Unlucky Torino centre-back Coco saw the ball come off him and ricochet into the net in the 74th minute when his teammate Luis Asue attempted to clear a free-kick.

From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025

Felix Salmon, Elizabeth Spiers, and Emily Peck are joined by the New York Times’ Nicholas Kulish to discuss the ricochet effect of such a massive media merger on the film and television industries.

From Slate • Dec. 6, 2025

Before I catch myself, my eyes ricochet like pin balls, bounding from John-John McIntyre’s beady brown eyes right up to hers.

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake

Related Words

• bounce back
• deflect