gunpowder
Americannoun
-
gunpowders
plural
-
an explosive mixture, as of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal, used in shells and cartridges, in fireworks, for blasting, etc.
-
Also called gunpowder tea. a fine variety of green China tea, each leaf of which is rolled into a little ball.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of gunpowder
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at gun 1, powder 1
Vocabulary lists containing gunpowder
East Asia - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
East Asia - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Civil Engineering
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Gore Glen was the site of Scotland's first industrial-scale gunpowder mill, which was established in 1794.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Blake had gunpowder residue on his body, which he explained by saying he’d been at target practice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
Like many historians, Ms. Fletcher warns against exaggerating the physical and psychological effect of gunpowder weapons upon indigenous peoples who were unfamiliar with such technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Navy officials have said the new battleship would be armed with unproven next-generation weapons including lasers and rail guns, which are weapons that use electricity to fire a projectile instead of gunpowder.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
The sound was like a fiesta in the middle of an exploding gunpowder factory.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Danger in Manufacture.—In the case of the old gunpowders, the most dangerous manufacturing operation was incorporation.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various
The adoption by the French government of the comparatively smokeless nitrocellulose explosive of Paul Vieille in 1887 practically put an end to the old forms of gunpowders.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various
The final testing is by firing proofs, as in the case of the old gunpowders.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4 "Coquelin" to "Costume" by Various
The foregoing appliances enabled accurate comparisons to be made at all points between different gunpowders, and to determine the various matters required in the manufacture of the first quality for the various arms of service.
From History of the Confederate Powder Works by George Washington Rains
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
