grenade

American  

[gri-neyd] / 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

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

Within the Sheriff’s Department, there are also two criminal investigations underway — one into the deputies’ deaths and another into the disappearance of a second grenade.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026

As evidence, it cited a February 2024 post from the IDF's Arabic spokesman, which included photos that he said showed Wishah operating weapons, including a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026

Or, more precisely, he’d keep asking questions, keep sighing and staring at the car like it was a hand grenade, until Toby finally told him the truth.

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss

An AFP photographer saw law enforcement use stun grenades to try disperse the crowds near Madison Square Garden.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

How close is good enough for horseshoes, hand grenades and constitutional law under Bruen?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026

Yes, it was about arm strength, so baseball players were good throwing hand grenades.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025

Der Spiegel, among other German outlets, reported that the shipment contained 10,000 rounds of live ammunition for pistols, 9,900 rounds of blank bullets for assault rifles, and smoke grenades.

From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2025

While the girls cradled their roses, the boys looked at them as if they were hand grenades.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli