shrapnel

noun

shrap·​nel ˈshrap-nᵊl 

especially Southern ˈsrap-

plural shrapnel

1

: a projectile that consists of a case provided with a powder charge and a large number of usually lead balls and that is exploded in flight

2

: bomb, mine, or shell fragments

Examples of shrapnel in a Sentence

He has a piece of shrapnel in his leg.

Shrapnel from the explosion wounded many people.

Recent Examples on the Web

The prolific Romanian satirist Radu Jude is back at NYFF with a new piece of sociological shrapnel. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2026

One, that it was made not just of ash and soot, but of metal, glass and concrete; and two, that soon this shrapnel would be whizzing by — and perhaps through — my head. — Timothy Townsend, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

To date, much of the temple’s architectural elements were either completely destroyed or damaged by heavy shelling, shrapnel impacts, and severe blasts related to the conflict. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Debris scattered cars like toys in front of the strip mall along Milam Dairy Road at Northwest 28th Street, and ripped into the front of the building like shrapnel. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Henry Shrapnel †1842 English artillery officer

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shrapnel

noun

shrap·​nel ˈshrap-nᵊl 

plural shrapnel

1

: a shell designed to burst and scatter metal balls with which it is filled along with jagged fragments of the case

2

: metal pieces from an exploded bomb, shell, or mine