smoke bomb

American

noun

a bomb that produces a continuous discharge of smoke rather than an explosion, used to mark a target for aerial attack, indicate wind direction, produce a smoke screen, etc.

smoke bomb British

noun

a device that emits large quantities of smoke when ignited

"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 smoke bomb

First recorded in 1915–20

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.

Police also found a smoke bomb at the scene.

From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025

Former Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths has been fined by a court for kicking a smoke bomb into the away fans sector during a match, British media reported on Wednesday.

From Reuters • Sep. 6, 2023

Police seized metal shields, a smoke bomb, shin guards, two-way radios, megaphones and an operations plan from the members and from inside the truck.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 22, 2023

In other words, are we truly fated to live on a smoke bomb of a planet?

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2023

Finn threw his last smoke bomb over his shoulder, just in case any guards tried to follow.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

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