explosion

American  

[ik-sploh-zhuhn] / ɪkˈsploʊ ʒən /

noun

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.

---

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

---

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.

---

Other Word Forms

• postexplosion
  adjective
• preexplosion
  noun

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

After that, if the temperature doesn’t fluctuate, it would “tell us that the fire problem, or the small explosion, has been mitigated,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

The tank in Orange County contains a plastic-making chemical, and its possible explosion led to an evacuation order affecting 50,000 people.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

A tanker was hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, according to the Royal Navy-affiliated U.K.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

SpaceX’s 12th Starship test, despite engine issues and an upper stage explosion, deployed satellites and boosted sector interest.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

Then the earth roared and the mountain bellowed and an explosion of red covered the sky.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

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