puck: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal/General for hockey; Literary for folklore spirit.
Quick answer
What does “puck” mean?
A small, hard rubber disc used as the playing object in the sport of ice hockey.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, hard rubber disc used as the playing object in the sport of ice hockey.
1. A mischievous or evil sprite in English folklore; a nature spirit. 2. Any small, flat, disc-shaped object. 3. (Verb, rare/informal) To hit or strike something with or like a puck.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'puck' is less common in everyday conversation outside hockey or specific literary contexts. In American English, it is immediately associated with ice hockey.
Connotations
UK: Often evokes Shakespeare ('A Midsummer Night's Dream'). US: Strongly evokes professional sports (NHL).
Frequency
Much higher frequency in American and Canadian English due to cultural prominence of ice hockey.
Grammar
How to Use “puck” in a Sentence
[V] the puck (e.g., pass, shoot, handle)[ADJ] puck (e.g., frozen, game, practice)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “puck” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He managed to puck it clear of the defensive zone.
American English
- She pucked it off the boards to her teammate.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in sports merchandise or broadcasting.
Academic
In literature studies (Shakespeare, folklore).
Everyday
Almost exclusively in the context of ice hockey.
Technical
Sports science (hockey equipment, physics of puck movement).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “puck”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “puck”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “puck”
- Capitalising 'puck' when referring to the hockey object (incorrect). Not capitalising 'Puck' when referring to the Shakespearean character (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Only capitalise 'Puck' when referring specifically to the named fairy in folklore/literature (e.g., Shakespeare's Puck). The hockey puck is not capitalised.
A standard ice hockey puck is made of vulcanised rubber.
Informally, yes, particularly in hockey contexts (e.g., 'He pucked it down the ice'), but it's not standard in formal writing.
Yes, in English folklore, Puck is also known as Robin Goodfellow.
A small, hard rubber disc used as the playing object in the sport of ice hockey.
Puck is usually informal/general for hockey; literary for folklore spirit. in register.
Puck: in British English it is pronounced /pʌk/, and in American English it is pronounced /pək/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “puck luck (hockey: random good fortune)”
- “to be puckered (archaic: bewitched by Puck)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
The hockey PUCK gets struck (rhymes with 'struck').
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED/AGGRESSION IS PUCK MOVEMENT ('He fired the puck into the net'), MISCHIEF IS A SPRITE ('He's a real Puck').
Practice
Quiz
In which play by Shakespeare does the character Puck appear?