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

Example Sentences

The court ruling was the latest legal move to ricochet through the interoceanic waterway, which handles about 40 percent of US container traffic and five percent of world trade.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 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

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

Their best hope is putting a body part in the way—and hoping a Capitals teammate isn’t there to redirect the ricochet into the net.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2025

I heard a rock ricochet off the trim around my window.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Related Words

• bounce back
• deflect