Phrase guide

sock puppet

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsɒkˌpʌpɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American, dialectal: /ˈsɑkˌpʌpɪt/ of Canada
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, dialectal: /ˈsɒkˌpʌpɪt/ of the US
  • Australian: /ˈsɔkˌpɐpɪt/
  • New-Zealand: /ˈsɒkˌpɐpət/
  • New-Zealand: [ˈsɔ̟kˌpɐpət]

1

noun

Meaning 1

A puppet made from a sock placed over a hand.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Synonym of puppet (“a person completely controlled by another”)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: puppet

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An alternative pseudonymous online account, especially one used for abuse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet, derogatory

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sock, smurf account

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To create or use a sock puppet (alternative user account).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Qualifier: wiki jargon

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From sock + puppet.

Across languages

Translations

43 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 襪公仔 /袜公仔 (mat6 gung1 zai2) — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Chinese Mandarin: 襪子木偶 /袜子木偶 (wàzi mù'ǒu) — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Danish: sokkedukke — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Dutch: sokpop — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Finnish: käsinukke — simple puppet made from a sock
  • French: poupée de chiffon — simple puppet made from a sock
  • French: marionnette — simple puppet made from a sock
  • German: Sockenpuppe — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Hebrew: בֻּבַּת גֶּרֶב (bubát gérev) — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Hungarian: zoknibáb — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Icelandic: sokkabrúða — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Japanese: 靴下人形 (kutsushita ningyō) — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Korean: 양말인형 (yangmarinhyeong) — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Norwegian: sokkedukke — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Polish: pacynka — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Portuguese: fantoche de meia — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Russian: ку́кла-петру́шка (kúkla-petrúška) — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Russian: марионе́тка (marionétka) — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Russian: ку́кла из носка́ (kúkla iz noská) — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Serbo-Croatian: čarapko — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Spanish: marioneta de calcetín — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Spanish: títere de mano — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Swedish: strumpdocka — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Turkish: çorap kukla — simple puppet made from a sock
  • Chinese Mandarin: 馬甲 /马甲 (mǎjiǎ) — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Chinese Mandarin: 傀儡 (kuǐlěi) — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Chinese Mandarin: 小號 /小号 (xiǎohào) — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Dutch: sockpuppet — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Dutch: sokpop — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Finnish: sukkanukke — second account created by a user in an online community
  • French: faux-nez — second account created by a user in an online community
  • French: marionnette — second account created by a user in an online community
  • German: Sockenpuppe — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Hebrew: בֻּבַּת קַשׁ (bubát qash) — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Italian: fantoccio — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Japanese: ソックパペット (sokkupapetto) — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Korean: 다중 계정 (dajung gyejeong) — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Polish: pacynka — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Portuguese: fantoche — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Russian: марионе́тка (marionétka) — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Spanish: usuario títere — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Vietnamese: rối — second account created by a user in an online community
  • Vietnamese: con rối — second account created by a user in an online community