bunting

1 of 3

noun (1)

bun·​ting ˈbən-tiŋ 

: any of various stout-billed passerine birds (families Cardinalidae and Emberizidae) of which some are grouped with the cardinal and some with the New World sparrows compare indigo bunting, painted bunting

bunting

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a lightweight loosely woven fabric used chiefly for flags and festive decorations

2

a

: flags

b

: decorations especially in the colors of the national flag

bunting

3 of 3

noun (3)

: an infant's hooded garment made of napped fabric

Examples of bunting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Decoration bunting of blue, white, and red should always appear with the blue arranged above with the white in the middle and the red below. —Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 June 2024

Decoration bunting of blue, white, and red should always appear, with the blue arranged above, the white in the middle and the red below. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2024

The event is scheduled to take place at the home of health insurance company co-founder John Word and his wife, Kimberly, whose home appeared to be decorated with red, white and blue bunting across the seawall and along doors and windows on the property. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024

For the rest of Europe, meanwhile, these are the glorious, hazy days before the carnival begins — a time filled with bunting and sticker albums, stirring television montages, speculative lineups and sweet nostalgia. —Rory Smith, New York Times, 7 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

perhaps from English dialect bunt (to sift)

Noun (3)

term of endearment in the nursery rhyme "Bye, baby bunting"

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1922, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bunting

• indigo bunting
• painted bunting
• snow bunting

Kids Definition

bunting

1 of 2 noun

bun·​ting ˈbənt-iŋ 

: any of various finches that are similar to sparrows in size and habits but have stout bills

bunting

2 of 2 noun

1

: a thin cloth used chiefly for making flags and patriotic decorations

2

: flags or decorations made of bunting

Etymology

Noun

Middle English buntynge "bunting"

Noun

possibly derived from a dialect word bunt "to sift (meal)"