gunpowder

noun

gun·​pow·​der ˈgən-ˌpau̇-dər How to pronounce gunpowder (audio)
: an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur used in gunnery and blasting
broadly : any of various powders used in guns as propelling charges

Examples of gunpowder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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At 339 on the Fortune 500 is DuPont de Nemours, a chemical company that first got its start in gunpowder production 223 years ago. Emily Steinberger, Fortune, 4 July 2025 The solution was filtered, purified and crystallized into usable potassium nitrate before being transported to gunpowder mills. Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 The scent of the earth was pungent and overpowered the acrid smell of the gunpowder, which dissipated into the air. Literary Hub, 18 July 2025 It was abandoned in the 1950s after gunpowder exploded, according to The New York Times. Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for gunpowder

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunpowder was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Gunpowder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunpowder. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

gunpowder

noun
gun·​pow·​der -ˌpau̇d-ər How to pronounce gunpowder (audio)
: an explosive mixture used in guns and blasting

More from Merriam-Webster on gunpowder

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