Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

gunmetal

American  
[guhn-met-l] / ˈgʌnˌmɛt l /
Or gun metal

noun

  1. any of various alloys or metallic substances with a dark gray or blackish color or finish, used for chains, belt buckles, etc.

  2. Also called gunmetal gray.  a dark gray with bluish or purplish tinge.

  3. a bronze formerly much used for cannon.

  4. an alloy of 88 percent copper, 10 percent tin, and 2 percent zinc, cast or machined for use in valves, gears, and other parts.


gunmetal British  
/ ˈɡʌnˌmɛtəl /

noun

  1. a type of bronze containing copper (88 per cent), tin (8–10 per cent), and zinc (2–4 per cent): used for parts that are subject to wear or to corrosion, esp by sea water

  2. any of various dark grey metals used for toys, belt buckles, etc

    1. a dark grey colour with a purplish or bluish tinge

    2. ( as adjective )

      gunmetal chiffon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gunmetal

First recorded in 1535–45; gun 1 + metal

Vocabulary lists containing gunmetal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Fountain, ballpoint and rollerball pens are available — finished in 24-carat gold plate, rhodium, titanium, sterling silver and gunmetal.

From Washington Times Nov. 13, 2023

The England captain is the subject of a 25-feet high mural on Whitehall Street, opposite the great, gunmetal dreadnought of the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

From BBC May 28, 2023

"And then I always think that metallic as a color ... like putting on something gunmetal or bronze automatically just lifts the spirits and lifts and lifts your face. You look great."

From Reuters Feb. 16, 2023

The metal desk comes in red, blue, white or gunmetal.

From Washington Post Aug. 18, 2022

Fancy purple strip-lighting of the Pleiades Corp still runs along gunmetal floor and ceiling.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training