RDX

American

a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, powerful high explosive, C 3 H 6 N 6 O 6 , used chiefly in bombs and shells.

RDX British

abbreviation

Research Department Explosive; another name for cyclonite See cyclonite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of RDX

1940–45; R(esearch) D(epartment) (E)x(plosive) , referring to such a department in Woolwich, England

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:

RDX

Some German sources report that the explosive was Semtex, which contains RDX - the explosive found in the food cans in a Lithuanian cemetery.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Helmut Rauch, chief executive of the defense unit at Diehl Group, a German company making missiles and artillery shells, said that despite Europe’s recent increases in explosive production, the supply of RDX is a concern.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

In all-wheel-drive form, the RDX is a bit sprightlier around corners than the GV70.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 17, 2022

The GV70 looks classier, but the RDX has more interior space.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 17, 2022

The GV70 faces off against many more established rivals, one of which followed a similar path to creation: the Acura RDX.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 17, 2022

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023