grenade

American  

[gri-nayd] / grɪˈneɪd /

noun

• grenades
  plural

1. a small shell containing an explosive and thrown by hand or fired from a rifle or launching device.

2. a similar missile containing a chemical, as for dispersing tear gas or fire-extinguishing substances.

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verb (used with object)

grenaded, grenading

1. to attack with a grenade or grenades.

grenade British  

/ ɡrɪˈneɪd /

noun

1. a small container filled with explosive thrown by hand or fired from a rifle

2. a sealed glass vessel that is thrown and shatters to release chemicals, such as tear gas or a fire extinguishing agent

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• grenades
  plural

Etymology

Origin of grenade

1525–35; < French < Spanish granada pomegranate, special use of granado having grains < Latin grānātus. See grain, -ate ¹

Explanation

A grenade is a small explosive device, a little bomb that can be thrown by hand. The earliest grenades were contained in ceramic jars and thrown by ancient Byzantine soldiers. If you've ever seen a war movie, you may have observed soldiers pulling pins out of hand-held grenades, throwing them, and watching them explode at a distance. The first grenades were extremely dangerous to the people holding them, and modern versions improved the thrower's safety even as they became more deadly for those they were used against. Larger grenades are propelled with launchers, gun-like weapons that are also used in combat.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grenade grenades

However, a witness told local media that the teenager did not pick up the grenade.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Police have confirmed a suspicious item which led to road closures around a canal in Retford was a replica grenade.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The grenade factory also began designing launchers at the request of Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez in October 2023.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

In response to questions about the grenade incident and the state’s ongoing efforts to obtain records, Gomez said Cal/OSHA is trying to avoid future tragedies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2026

The effect was like someone dropping a flash grenade on the table.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Why has France suspended the use of stun grenades on protesters?

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

"Authorities must allow young people to exercise these rights without fear of being hit by tear gas grenades or batons, or being arbitrarily taken into police custody," said Amnesty France president Anne Savinel-Barras.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

In California, Prince Harry could be treated as a faraway problem and was largely ignored by palace courtiers, who routinely refused to comment on the verbal grenades launched by the man fifth-in-line for the throne.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

The security forces used tear gas and stun grenades.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Some civilian observers, maybe bureaucrats from the Department, stood by as several of us fired grenades onto the range using the gas gun.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover