# bullet

/ˈbʊɫət/ (US) · /bˈʊlɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bullet
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. ammunition

noun · CEFR B1

a small metal object that is shot from a gun.

For teachers: a kinetic projectile, typically made of metal, expelled from a firearm; often used informally to refer to a complete round of ammunition.

- The police found a single bullet on the ground near the broken window.
- Forensic investigators recovered a spent bullet from the masonry, which provided critical evidence regarding the calibre of the weapon used in the assault.

### 2. list marker

noun · CEFR B2

a small solid circle or symbol used to mark items in a list.

For teachers: a typographical symbol, often a solid circle, used to introduce items in a list to improve readability.

- Use a bullet for each new point to make your notes easier to read.
- The presentation was cluttered with excessive text, so the consultant recommended using bullets to highlight the primary objectives more effectively.

### 3. finance

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a large final payment made at the end of a loan.

For teachers: a large, scheduled lump-sum repayment of the principal of a loan, typically occurring at the end of the term.

- The company struggled to pay the bullet at the end of the five-year loan.
- The borrower opted for a bullet repayment structure to keep monthly interest costs low, despite the risk of a significant final obligation.

### 4. prison time

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

one year of time spent in prison.

For teachers: a slang term representing a one-year prison sentence.

- He ended up doing a bullet for a crime he didn't commit.
- After the plea bargain, the defendant was relieved to receive only a bullet rather than the five-year stretch the prosecutor originally sought.

### 5. to move fast

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to move very quickly in a specific direction.

For teachers: to travel or move with great speed, mimicking the trajectory of a projectile.

- The motorcycle bulleted past us on the highway.
- The experimental car bulleted across the salt flats, shattering the previous land speed record within the first three miles of the run.

## Examples

- The police found a single bullet on the floor.
- Hunters must choose the correct caliber of bullet to ensure a clean and ethical shot.
- Forensic investigators can often match a recovered bullet to a specific weapon by examining the unique rifling marks left on the lead during discharge.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.