black powder
noun
: an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur used especially in fireworks and as a propellant in antique firearms compare gunpowder
Examples of black powder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The next night, Weathermen placed plastic coffee cups filled with black powder under the hoods of police squad cars across Chicago.
—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Using a 10-liter reactor, heat and pressure were applied to turn soggy stillage into a fine black powder, which was then refined in a furnace into two distinct materials.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
The firearm involved in the incident was a .44-caliber cap and ball revolver, a black powder gun that uses a lead ball and percussion caps.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Components for the bombs, prosecutors wrote, included a pipe nipple, end caps, wires, a 9-volt battery and homemade black powder, among other items.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black powder
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Using a 10-liter reactor, heat and pressure were applied to turn soggy stillage into a fine black powder, which was then refined in a furnace into two distinct materials.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
The firearm involved in the incident was a .44-caliber cap and ball revolver, a black powder gun that uses a lead ball and percussion caps.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Components for the bombs, prosecutors wrote, included a pipe nipple, end caps, wires, a 9-volt battery and homemade black powder, among other items.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black powder
Cite this Entry
“Black powder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20powder. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
