mullet

IPA/ˈmʌlɪt/
KK[mˈʌlət]IPA/ˈmʌlɪt/

mullet — noun

  • mulletsingular
  • mulletsplural

1. A haircut in which the crown and sides are cut short, with the back portion left

1.nounB1
Definition

A haircut in which the crown and sides are cut short, with the back portion left deliberately long. This look gained wide popularity among male wearers during the 1980s and is often linked to rock-music culture or retro fashion.

Example

Imran wore a mullet to his school's 1980s-themed dress-up day.

collocation: wear a mullet

The old photograph showed my grandfather with a mullet and a leather jacket.

Common collocations
  • sport a mullet
  • wear a mullet
  • mullet haircut
  • mullet hairstyle
  • classic mullet

Grammar Patterns

a/the + mullet

Usage Note

The mullet is strongly tied to 1980s and 1990s working-class culture and rock musicians in Australia, the UK, and the US. The phrase "business at the front, party at the back" is a well-known humorous description. In the 2010s and 2020s, the style saw a revival as a retro fashion choice worn by both men and women.

2. Any of several edible fish species, from the Mugilidae family, that live in warm

2.nounB1
Definition

Any of several edible fish species, from the Mugilidae family, that live in warm coastal waters. They have a rounded body, a wide mouth, and firm white flesh that is commonly grilled, baked, or fried.

Example

The restaurant served grilled mullet with a side of lemon and herbs.

collocation: grilled mullet

Fishermen along the coast catch mullet in large nets during the summer.

Common collocations
  • grilled mullet
  • baked mullet
  • fried mullet
  • mullet roe
  • grey mullet
  • red mullet
  • catch mullet
Synonyms
  • grey mullet

    The most common edible variety; often called simply 'mullet' in markets and recipes.

  • red mullet

    A smaller, pricier fish with a stronger flavour; technically a different species but sold under the same common name.

Grammar Patterns

a + mullet (countable: one fish)

mullet (uncountable: the meat)

Usage Note

The two main types sold in markets are grey mullet and red mullet, though red mullet belongs to a different fish family (Mullidae). The word can be countable ('I caught three mullets') or uncountable when referring to the meat ('We had mullet for dinner'). The plural form can be either 'mullet' or 'mullets.'

Common Mistakes

Red mullet and grey mullet are the same fish.
Red mullet and grey mullet belong to different fish families, though both are sold as food.
Red mullet (Mullidae) is scientifically distinct from grey mullet (Mugilidae).

Word family

  • mulleted
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Grey mullet and red mullet are both sold as 'mullet' in markets, but they come from different fish families. Grey mullet (Mugilidae) has a mild flavour and firm white flesh, making it good for grilling or baking. Red mullet (Mullidae) is smaller, pricier, and has a stronger, sweeter taste — it is often cooked whole. Sea bass is a more prized fish with a delicate, buttery texture, costing more than either type of mullet. Tilapia is a cheap, mild freshwater fish that some cooks use as a substitute for grey mullet, though it lacks the same coastal flavour. For example, a home cook might buy grey mullet for a fish stew, while a fine-dining restaurant is more likely to serve red mullet whole on the bone.

grey mulletred mulletsea basstilapia

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'mullet' comes from Middle English 'mulet,' taken from Old French, which itself came from Latin 'mullus' meaning 'red mullet.' The fish has been called mullet in English since the 1400s. The hairstyle got its name much later, in the 1990s, because the shape — short on top and sides, long at the back — reminded people of the fish's body. The term was popularised by the 1994 Beastie Boys song 'Mullet Head,' although the haircut itself had been fashionable since the 1970s and 1980s.