bombardier

noun

bom·​bar·​dier ˌbäm-bə-ˈdir 

-bər-

1

a

archaic : artilleryman

b

: a noncommissioned officer in the British artillery

2

: a bomber-crew member who releases the bombs

Examples of bombardier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, the remains of bombardier Lt. Tom Kelly were identified and soon will be handed over to his family. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025

Then, in 2013, relatives of the plane’s bombardier, Thomas V. Kelly Jr., started doing some research. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025

In the case of the bombardier beetles, between 35 and 57 percent of the toads threw up within 50 minutes on average, ensuring the survival of the regurgitated beetles. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2024

His film debut came in 1964 with a small role in Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War black comedy Dr. Strangelove, playing a bombardier aboard the nuke-dropping airplane. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, "one in charge of a bombard," from bombarde bombard entry 1 + -ier -eer

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bombardier

• auctioneer
• bandelier
• belvedere
• brigadier
• buccaneer
• cavalier
• chandelier
• chanticleer
• chevalier
• commandeer
• disappear
• engineer

Kids Definition

bombardier

noun

bom·​bar·​dier ˌbäm-bə(r)-ˈdi(ə)r 

: a bomber-crew member who releases the bombs