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• bombardier
  bombardier

  noun

  the member of a bombing plane crew who operates the bombsight and bomb-release mechanism.
• Bombardier
  Bombardier

  a snowmobilelike vehicle driven by an internal-combustion engine, equipped with caterpillar tracks at the rear, steered by skis at the front, and designed for travel over snow.

bombardier

¹ American  

[bom-ber-deer, -buh-] / ˌbɒm bərˈdɪər, -bə- /

noun

1. Military. the member of a bombing plane crew who operates the bombsight and bomb-release mechanism.

2. History/Historical. artilleryman.

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Bombardier ² American  

[bom-ber-deer, -buh-, bom-bahr-dyay] / ˌbɒm bərˈdɪər, -bə-, ˌbɒm bɑrˈdjeɪ /

Trademark, Canadian.

1. a snowmobilelike vehicle driven by an internal-combustion engine, equipped with caterpillar tracks at the rear, steered by skis at the front, and designed for travel over snow.

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bombardier ¹ British  

/ ˌbɒmbəˈdɪə /

noun

1. the member of a bomber aircrew responsible for aiming and releasing the bombs

2. a noncommissioned rank below the rank of sergeant in the Royal Artillery

3. Also called: bombardier beetle. any of various small carabid beetles of the genus Brachinus , esp B. crepitans of Europe, which defend themselves by ejecting a jet of volatile fluid

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Bombardier ² British  

/ ˌbɒmbəˈdɪə /

noun

1. a snow tractor, typically having caterpillar tracks at the rear and skis at the front

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Etymology

Origin of bombardier¹

From Middle French, dating back to 1550–60; see origin at bombard, -ier ²

Origin of Bombardier²

First recorded in 1945–50; after Canadian inventor and industrialist Armand Bombardier (died 1964), who designed it

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bombardier Bombardier

Air Force tasked Edward Ruppelt, a wartime bombardier, with gathering and analyzing pilots’ reports for a program called Project Blue Book.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

His bombardier and first real friend in the service, Danny Shapiro, was later shot down on another plane and held as a prisoner of war for a year.

From New York Times ● Dec. 17, 2021

Mr Parkinson, a former paratrooper and lance bombardier, had both legs amputated and sustained 40 other injuries as a result of fighting in Afghanistan.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2021

Mr. Pedevillano was born in Bayonne, N.J., and was a B-17 bombardier when he parachuted to safety from his burning plane on April 24, 1944.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 18, 2020

Havermeyer was a lead bombardier who never missed.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Bombardier responded by highlighting its deep U.S. footprint, noting that its jets rely heavily on American-made components such as engines, avionics and other critical aircraft systems.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Bombardier said in a statement that its “plan is to continue to invest in our people, our customers and the communities in which we operate across the country.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

Bombardier models remain US certified and the company is currently exempt from US tariffs.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

She added that she has reached out to Bombardier CEO Éric Martel and offered her government's full support.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Mr Dawes, who took command, said we would keep on with rifles, and Bombardier Clidstone was doing fine work with his Lewis gun.

From Pushed and the Return Push by George Herbert Fosdike Nichols

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