kamikaze

American  

[kah-mi-kah-zee] / ˌkɑ mɪˈkɑ zi /

noun

1. (during World War II) a member of a special corps in the Japanese air force charged with the suicidal mission of crashing an aircraft laden with explosives into an enemy target, especially a warship.

2. an airplane used for this purpose.

3. a person or thing that behaves in a wildly reckless or destructive manner.

   We were nearly run down by a kamikaze on a motorcycle.

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adjective

1. of, pertaining to, undertaken by, or characteristic of a kamikaze.

   a kamikaze pilot; a kamikaze attack.

kamikaze British  

/ ˌkæmɪˈkɑːzɪ /

noun

1. (in World War II) one of a group of Japanese pilots who performed suicidal missions by crashing their aircraft, loaded with explosives, into an enemy target, esp a ship

2. an aircraft used for such a mission

3. (modifier) (of an action) undertaken or (of a person) undertaking an action in the knowledge that it will result in the death of the person performing it in order that maximum damage may be inflicted on an enemy

   a kamikaze attack

   a kamikaze bomber

4. (modifier) extremely foolhardy and possibly self-defeating

   kamikaze pricing

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kamikaze Cultural  

1. Japanese fighter pilots in World War II, trained to make suicide crashes into Allied ships.

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Etymology

Origin of kamikaze

1940–45; < Japanese, equivalent to kami ( y ) god (earlier *kamui ) + kaze wind (earlier *kanzai

Example Sentences

Russia often targets them with Lancet kamikaze drones costing about $35,000.

From BBC

But he also noted that Russia has ramped up the production of missiles and so-called 'kamikaze' drones such as the Geran-2 - a domestically produced version of the Iranian Shahed drone.

From BBC

Saltnes, who previously described their style of play as "kamikaze", said: "I don't think it would be possible to play like that without Bjorn and the mental work we do."

From BBC

He also attended a Japanese military school that trained kamikaze fighter pilots, where he was bullied for being Korean.

From Los Angeles Times

In some cases, offenders are openly clearing shelves of items in full view of customers and shop workers - a tactic sometimes known as "kamikaze" shoplifting.

From BBC