shrapnel
Americannoun
-
Military.
-
a hollow projectile containing bullets or the like and a bursting charge, designed to explode before reaching the target, and to set free a shower of missiles.
-
such projectiles collectively.
-
-
shell fragments.
noun
-
-
a projectile containing a number of small pellets or bullets exploded before impact
-
such projectiles collectively
-
-
fragments from this or any other type of shell
Etymology
Origin of shrapnel
1800–10; named after Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, its inventor
Explanation
Shrapnel refers to the pieces of a bomb, shell, or bullet that has exploded. During wars, many soldiers are treated for shrapnel wounds. When people are injured or killed by bombs, many of them are hurt by flying shrapnel — sharp, dangerous shards of metal. Shrapnel gets its name from General Henry Shrapnel of the British Army's Royal Artillery, who, during the Peninsular War, invented an exploding shell that broke apart and shattered when it was detonated.
Vocabulary lists containing shrapnel
"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury
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!
Code Talker
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!
Red Queen
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.
Bannister said his father Sammy, a stoker mechanic who was 21-years-old at the time, sustained shrapnel wounds to his chest when HMS Amethyst came under fire.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
In a sign of the risks, police said this week that shrapnel fragments had fallen on the Old City.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
The type of shrapnel bomb was "specific to IS attacks", the statement said.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
Hadeel Sinzawi, 22, said she has been waiting for a medical evacuation for a year and a half to treat a shrapnel injury she sustained during the war.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026
It’s as if the interface between being asleep and being awake has gone supernova, exploding and swallowing everything around it with cosmic shrapnel.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
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.
