gunpowder

noun

gun·​pow·​der ˈgən-ˌpau̇-dər How to pronounce gunpowder (audio)
: an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur used in gunnery and blasting
broadly : any of various powders used in guns as propelling charges

Examples of gunpowder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Five minutes later, with the crew members strapped back in their seats and the gunpowder smell of space fresh in the cabin, the space walk was declared officially complete. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2024 The invention of gunpowder in the ninth century AD led to the use of explosives and firearms; in response, defenders built stronger fortifications and placed a greater emphasis on producing weapons. Mark A. Milley, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2024 Related article African cities sitting on ‘keg of gunpowder’ as growing youth anger fuels unrest On Monday, Tinubu signed into law a bill that doubled the national minimum wage from N30,000 ($18.06) a month to N70,000 ($42.14). Nimi Princewill, CNN, 1 Aug. 2024 The search is connected to the ‘gunpowder plot' of 1605, a pivotal moment in British history. Armani Syed, TIME, 17 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for gunpowder 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gunpowder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunpowder was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near gunpowder

Cite this Entry

“Gunpowder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunpowder. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

gunpowder

noun
gun·​pow·​der -ˌpau̇d-ər How to pronounce gunpowder (audio)
: an explosive mixture used in guns and blasting

More from Merriam-Webster on gunpowder

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