Pearl Harbor

noun

: a surprise attack often with devastating effect

Word History

Etymology

Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, American naval station attacked without warning by the Japanese on December 7, 1941

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pearl Harbor was in 1942

Rhymes for Pearl Harbor

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Browse Nearby Words

pearl gray
Pearl Harbor
pearl hominy
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Cite this Entry

“Pearl Harbor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pearl%20Harbor. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Pearl Harbor

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Pearl Harbor

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