explosion

American  

[ik-sploh-zhuhn] / ɪkˈsploʊ ʒən /

noun

explosions plural

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.

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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

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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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preexplosion
  noun
• postexplosion
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• explosions
  plural

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

See Examples For:

explosion explosions

"The explosion occurred after the customers and staff had evacuated," a spokesman for the mall's operator Aeon told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

The mall in the town of Kashima was apparently gutted by a gas explosion, a government source told the Kyodo news agency, collapsing ceilings and walls.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

Some local media reports that there was an explosion at the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto, following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

With the explosion of the atomic bomb, Kip’s belief system is literally shattered, leaving him to find a new path in life that, sadly, doesn’t include Hana.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

Despite the explosion, operators for unit 1 needed to press forward with their efforts to cool the reactor.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

The findings may also improve scientists' understanding of how silver and other heavy elements are formed in stars and stellar explosions before becoming part of later generations of stars and planets.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026

According to Iranian news agencies, explosions were heard in parts of southern Iran.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Mehr, another state-controlled agency, reported explosions "in several provinces in the south" of the country.

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

Iranian media reported that explosions were heard in the central city of Yazd and at Qeshm island and the port of Bandar Abbas next to the strait.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

But for an elderly star left after supernova explosions and other impetuosities with more than several times the Sun’s mass, there are no forces known that can prevent collapse.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

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