What does stunt mean?
A stunt is principally a bold or difficult performance, such as an aerial feat in a film or a dangerous motorcycle manoeuvre. The noun can also refer to a conspicuous action undertaken chiefly for publicity or political effect, often with damaging consequences. As a verb, stunt means to restrict or prevent development: policies may stunt economic growth, while poor nutrition can stunt a child's physical development. In another relatively limited use, someone can stunt, meaning to perform a stunt or series of stunts. The word combines a sense of spectacle and risk with a more figurative sense of obstruction. Its figurative use is especially common in reporting on business, politics, science, and public health, where it describes something that is being hindered rather than entirely prevented from developing.
A daring or difficult performance, especially one designed to attract attention; also, an action intended to damage someone's prospects or progress.
"The driver performed the stunt using a specially reinforced vehicle."
The phrase 'a stunt' in political or business reporting often implies a conspicuous action with questionable motives or consequences.
To prevent the development, growth, or progress of something; also, to perform a stunt or sequence of stunts.
"The sudden withdrawal of funding could stunt the project's development."
The development sense is usually transitive and is common in economic, political, scientific, and health-related contexts.
The plural is used for individual performances or attention-grabbing actions.
"The film contains several spectacular stunts performed without a visible safety harness."
From death-defying performances to economic growth: a stunt can be spectacular, reckless, or deliberately prevented from happening.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stunt come from?
The English word has distinct historical associations with performance on the one hand and the hindering of development on the other. The theatrical sense developed among performers and was later extended to films and other media, while the sense of preventing growth became common in descriptions of economic, biological, and personal development. Although the two modern strands are related in ordinary usage, their precise earliest histories are not securely established and should not be treated as direct derivatives of one another without qualification.
Related word forms
How stunt is actually used
The performance sense is especially associated with film, television, and circus work. When used for hindering development, the word is usually transitive and commonly occurs in economic, political, and biological contexts. The potentially negative sense of 'stunt' as a noun is especially common in British and US media usage.
Easily confused with stunt
Stunt is a verb meaning to impede development, whereas stunted is the adjective describing something whose growth or development has been hindered.