bazooka

noun

ba·​zoo·​ka bə-ˈzü-kə 

: a light portable antitank weapon consisting of an open-breech smoothbore firing tube that launches an armor-piercing rocket and is fired from the shoulder

Examples of bazooka in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bazooka has also never been used before, and some European countries, like Germany, are still looking for ways to deescalate. —Philip Wang, Time, 21 Jan. 2026

The trade bazooka could block some of America’s access to EU markets or impose export controls, among a broader list of potential countermeasures. —Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026

Purdy was never known for having a bazooka arm. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2026

The release of the cartoon comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a cartoon image of Franklin the Turtle firing a bazooka at a boat on Sunday, Nov. 30. —Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

after bazooka, a brass instrument popularized by the radio comedian Bob Burns during the 1930s, probably extended form of bazoo "kazoo," of imitative origin

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bazooka

• festuca
• lactuca
• taluka
• melaleuca

Kids Definition

bazooka

noun

ba·​zoo·​ka bə-ˈzü-kə 

: a light portable shoulder weapon that consists of an open tube and shoots an explosive rocket able to pierce the armor of tanks

Etymology

from bazooka, name of a homemade musical instrument consisting of pipes and a funnel