explosion

American  

[ik-sploh-zhuhn] / ɪkˈsploʊ ʒən /

noun

• explosions
  plural

1. an act or instance of exploding; a violent expansion or bursting with noise, as of gunpowder or a boiler (opposed to implosion).

2. the noise itself.

   The loud explosion woke them.

3. a violent outburst, as of laughter or anger.

4. a sudden, rapid, or great increase.

   a population explosion.

5. the burning of the mixture of fuel and air in an internal-combustion engine.

6. Phonetics. plosion.

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explosion British  

/ ɪkˈspləʊʒən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of exploding

2. a violent release of energy resulting from a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction, esp one that produces a shock wave, loud noise, heat, and light Compare implosion

3. a sudden or violent outburst of activity, noise, emotion, etc

4. a rapid increase, esp in a population

5. phonetics another word for plosion

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explosion Scientific  

/ ĭk-splō′zhən /

1. A violent blowing apart or bursting caused by energy released from a very fast chemical reaction, a nuclear reaction, or the escape of gases under pressure.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preexplosion
  noun
• postexplosion
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• explosions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of explosion

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin explōsiōn-, stem of explōsiō, from explōs(us) “driven off by clapping” (past participle of explōdere “to drive off by clapping, drive away”; see explode) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Whether it's a bursting balloon or a detonating bomb, you're sure to notice an explosion. An explosion involves a sudden and often violent burst of energy. The noun explosion is useful when you're talking about a watermelon smashing on the pavement or the burst of fireworks overhead, but it can also describe a sudden increase in something, like an explosion of excitement at a birthday party when the pony arrives. Originally, explosion was used to mean "scornful rejection," from its root in the Latin explodere, "hiss off the stage," and a disappointed audience today might still be described as "exploding with boos."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

explosion explosions

Another witness, in his thirties, corroborated reports of an explosion.

From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026

Nearly 400 people had been evacuated from the suburb by Saturday, where the explosion damaged 130 homes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Jahmell Campbell, 24, from London, said when his e-scooter caught fire "it was the loudest explosion I'd ever heard".

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Researchers will now investigate whether Betelgeuse B could influence the future evolution of the red supergiant, including its eventual supernova explosion.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

This was a direct result of the growth of agriculture and industrialization, and an unprecedented growth—more of an explosion, actually—in the human population.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

AFP journalists in the capital heard around a dozen loud explosions and saw flashes in sky early Tuesday moments after the air force warned of incoming ballistic missiles.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Fellow co-author Dr. Brodie Popovic said the debate also provided researchers with an opportunity to examine the astrophysics of supernova explosions more closely and reconsider the assumptions built into cosmological measurements.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026

“Motor City” and movies like it — think “Sisu,” “Silent Night” and other screen explosions — are the opposite all that.

From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026

Johann Goldammer, head of the Global Fire Monitoring Center, a research and advisory group in Germany, said extended hot dry spells and the deterioration of old ammunition are making explosions more likely.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Those steam explosions had blasted through hundreds of feet of rock and ice.

From "I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980" by Lauren Tarshis

Related Words

• blast
• burst
• detonation
• firing
• outbreak
• outburst