explosion

noun

ex·​plo·​sion ik-ˈsplō-zhən 

1

: the act or an instance of exploding

injured in a laboratory explosion

2

: a large-scale, rapid, or spectacular expansion or bursting out or forth

the explosion of suburbia

an explosion of red hair

3

: the release of occluded breath that occurs in one kind of articulation of stop consonants

Synonyms of explosion

• eruption
• detonation

Examples of explosion in a Sentence

The filmmakers staged the car's explosion.

The island was rocked by a series of volcanic explosions.

The region has experienced a population explosion.

His comments prompted an explosion of laughter from the crowd.

Recent Examples on the Web

The explosions provide different interruptions, punctuating the moment as one of Keeley’s ideas plays out in real time. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

Though the threat of an explosion was mitigated in early June, cleanup didn't begin until the very end of the month. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

It’s most often seen in people who play contact sports such as football, hockey and soccer, but it has also been detected in the brains of troops who have been injured in explosions and in some people who experience domestic violence. — Nadia Kounang, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

But Kingsley also points to the explosion of GLP-1s, which have been linked to hair loss. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin explosion-, explosio act of driving off by clapping, from explodere

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing explosion

• population explosion

Rhymes for explosion

• corrosion
• erosion
• implosion

Kids Definition

explosion

noun

ex·​plo·​sion ik-ˈsplō-zhən 

1

: the act or an instance of exploding

2

: a violent outburst of feeling

Medical Definition

explosion

noun

ex·​plo·​sion ik-ˈsplō-zhən 

: the act or an instance of exploding