bombardier

noun

bom·​bar·​dier ˌbäm-bə-ˈdir How to pronounce bombardier (audio)
-bər-
1
a
archaic : artilleryman
b
: a noncommissioned officer in the British artillery
2
: a bomber-crew member who releases the bombs

Examples of bombardier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the case of the bombardier beetles, between 35 and 57 percent of the toads threw up within 50 minutes on average, ensuring the survival of the regurgitated beetles. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2024 His film debut came in 1964 with a small role in Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War black comedy Dr. Strangelove, playing a bombardier aboard the nuke-dropping airplane. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2024 During raids, American crews of ten—including a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio operator, bombardier and gunners—engaged in daylight precision bombing, focusing on strategic targets like German aircraft factories, ball-bearing plants and U-boat pens. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 Eighty-two years ago today, when Japan made the surprise raid that plunged the U.S. into World War II, Armstrong’s father, Jack, was an Army Air Corps bombardier at Oahu’s Hickam Field, and his mother, Audrey, was a Red Cross nurse. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for bombardier 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, "one in charge of a bombard," from bombarde bombard entry 1 + -ier -eer

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bombardier was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near bombardier

Cite this Entry

“Bombardier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bombardier. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

bombardier

noun
bom·​bar·​dier ˌbäm-bə(r)-ˈdi(ə)r How to pronounce bombardier (audio)
: a bomber-crew member who releases the bombs

More from Merriam-Webster on bombardier

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!