gunpowder

noun

gun·​pow·​der ˈgən-ˌpau̇-dər How to pronounce gunpowder (audio)
: an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur used in gunnery and blasting
broadly : any of various powders used in guns as propelling charges

Examples of gunpowder in a Sentence

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The mid-19th century had seen a massive increase in the use of nitrogen-rich guano in fertilizer and gunpowder, and the demand for this commodity would fuel a wave of American expansion throughout the Pacific. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 According to Shinde, the actor’s hands were hurt by gunpowder and flying glass. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 Bongulo Paneer — cooked in bamboo, served with a coconut and capsicum poriyal that blends peanut chutney, acidic gongura sour cream and fiery gunpowder. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026 At the Great Omari Mosque, volunteers use paintbrushes to lift dust and gunpowder from the few thousand books that survived from a collection of twenty thousand. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gunpowder

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunpowder was in the 15th century

Rhymes for gunpowder

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Browse Nearby Words

gunport
gunpowder
gunpowder hammer
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Cite this Entry

“Gunpowder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunpowder. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gunpowder

noun
gun·​pow·​der -ˌpau̇d-ər How to pronounce gunpowder (audio)
: an explosive mixture used in guns and blasting

More from Merriam-Webster on gunpowder

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gunpowder

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