gunpowder
noun
gun·pow·der
ˈgən-ˌpau̇-dər 
: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
The Continental Congress understood that the fledgling United States could not withstand British military might without receiving overseas shipments of gold and gunpowder, in addition to warships, sailors and soldiers.
—
Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
In desperation, Thompson threw a keg of gunpowder into the fire.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Over the next few centuries the Chinese developed a proto-gun that channeled the power of gunpowder through a cylinder, and the explosive substance gradually spread westward for both military and industrial purposes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
When Chinese alchemists invented gunpowder in the ninth century, no one grasped the full range of its potential uses.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gunpowder
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Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
In desperation, Thompson threw a keg of gunpowder into the fire.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Over the next few centuries the Chinese developed a proto-gun that channeled the power of gunpowder through a cylinder, and the explosive substance gradually spread westward for both military and industrial purposes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
When Chinese alchemists invented gunpowder in the ninth century, no one grasped the full range of its potential uses.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gunpowder
Cite this Entry
“Gunpowder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunpowder. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gunpowder
noun
gun·pow·der
-ˌpau̇d-ər
: an explosive mixture used in guns and blasting
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