ricochet

1 of 2

noun

ric·​o·​chet ˈri-kə-ˌshā 

 British also  -ˌshet

: a glancing rebound (as of a projectile off a flat surface)

the ricochet of the bullet off the wall

also : an object that ricochets

He was hit by a ricochet.

ricochet

2 of 2

verb

ricocheted ˈri-kə-ˌshād  also ricochetted ˈri-kə-ˌshe-təd  ; ricocheting ˈri-kə-ˌshā-iŋ  also ricochetting ˈri-kə-ˌshe-tiŋ 

intransitive verb

: to bounce or skip with or as if with a glancing rebound

The bullet that hit President Reagan had ricocheted off the presidential limousine.

—David Fisher

The ball ricochets at a right angle, falling with force into the first baseman's glove …

—Bob Drury

The chute snaps open, the sound ricocheting through the gorge like a gunshot, and McGuire is soaring, carving S turns into the air, swooping over a winding creek.

—Karl Taro Greenfeld

Synonyms

Verb

• bounce
• carom
• glance
• rebound
• skim
• skip

Examples of ricochet in a Sentence

Noun

He was hit by a ricochet.

the ricochet of the bullet off the wall

Verb

The bullet ricocheted off the wall.

the ball ricocheted off the fielder's glove and went over the fence for a home run

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sophomore right wing Quinn Hutson won a race to a ricochet off the end boards and relayed the puck to Greene in the slot. —Rich Thompson, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2024

While the 12-track LP ricochets between the infectious rhythms of various Latin genres, from bachata and mambo to reggaeton and salsa, Turizo's smooth baritone and romantic lyrics tie the songs together for a collection that's as energizing as it is feel-good. —Pamela Avila, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024

Verb

The crime deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system, amplified by graphic video of the attack that ricocheted across social media. —Cedar Attanasio, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024

Forensic investigators are trying to determine if the woman was hit by the bullet that went through the seven-year NYPD veteran’s leg or by ricocheting shrapnel. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French

First Known Use

Noun

1740, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1804, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ricochet

1 of 2 noun

ric·​o·​chet ˈrik-ə-ˌshā 

 British also  -ˌshet

1

: a bouncing off at an angle (as of a bullet off a flat surface)

2

: an object that ricochets

ricochet

2 of 2 verb

ricocheted

-ˌshād

also ricochetted

-ˌshet-əd

; ricocheting

-ˌshā-iŋ

also ricochetting

-ˌshet-iŋ

: to bounce off at an angle