Dunkirk

American  

[duhn-kurk] / ˈdʌn kɜrk /

noun

1. French Dunkerque. a seaport in N France: site of the evacuation of a British expeditionary force of over 330,000 men under German fire May 29–June 4, 1940.

2. a period of crisis or emergency when drastic measures must be enforced.

   The smaller nations were facing a financial Dunkirk.

3. a city in W New York, on Lake Erie.

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Dunkirk Cultural  

1. The scene of a remarkable, though ignominious, retreat by the British army in World War II. Dunkirk, a town on the northern coast of France, was the last refuge of the British during the fall of France, and several hundred naval and civilian vessels took the troops back to England in shifts over three days.

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Discover More

The term Dunkirk is sometimes used to signify a desperate retreat.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Dunkirk

Migration analysts say people smugglers may be experimenting with new departure points to avoid a heavy police presence in Calais and Dunkirk.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

The Gravelines nuclear power plant, near the northern city of Dunkirk, is the largest in Western Europe, with six 900-megawatt reactors.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Aneurin Barnard, known for appearing in Dunkirk and Peaky Blinders, was involved in the alleged incident before the premiere of his new film at Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

The first three data centres would be at Dunkirk and near the northern cities of Cambrai and Amiens, he added.

From Barron's ● May 30, 2026

The road led directly north, toward a black cloud of burning oil that stood above the horizon, marking out Dunkirk.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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