shrapnel

noun shrap·nel \ ˈshrap-nᵊl , especially Southern ˈsrap- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of shrapnel

plural shrapnel

1 : a projectile that consists of a case provided with a powder charge and a large number of usually lead balls and that is exploded in flight

2 : bomb, mine, or shell fragments

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Examples of shrapnel in a Sentence

He has a piece of shrapnel in his leg.
Shrapnel from the explosion wounded many people.

Recent Examples of shrapnel from the Web

Rice spent more than a month in combat in France and was wounded by shrapnel.

— john wilkens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "D-Day paratrooper from Coronado will jump again in France — at age 96," 6 June 2018
But a blade that pushed air through the engine had broken off, sending shrapnel into the plane’s fuselage.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "Southwest says bookings down following fatal accident," 4 June 2018
In it, Wayans, who plays Murtaugh on the Fox procedural, can be seen getting struck in the back of his head by shrapnel.

— lesley goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Lethal Weapon': Damon Wayans Shares Graphic Video Detailing Issues With Ousted Star Clayne Crawford," 14 May 2018
About 20 minutes after Flight 1380 left La Guardia Airport to Dallas on April 17, the aircraft’s left side engine exploded, sending shrapnel and debris into the plane’s fuselage.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Hero Pilot Tammie Jo Shults Opens Up About Harrowing Southwest Flight: 'Your Instincts Kick In'," 11 May 2018
In both episodes, the first in 2016 and the one on Tuesday, fan blades in the planes’ engines broke apart, sending shrapnel into the plane’s body.

— zach wichter, New York Times, "F.A.A. Orders Closer Engine Inspections After Southwest Airlines Failure," 20 Apr. 2018
The blown engine sent shrapnel through the fuselage and into the window where passengers say Riordan was sitting.

— NBC News, "Firefighter on board fatal Southwest flight speaks on trying to save woman," 19 Apr. 2018
The agency couldn't confirm reports that the package may have contained nails and shrapnel.

— CBS News, "Package meant for Austin blows up at FedEx building near San Antonio," 20 Mar. 2018
His son was injured when an exploding mine sent shrapnel into his chest.

— jon emont, WSJ, "Myanmar Blocks Rohingya Return With Fence, Barbed Wire and Land Mines," 20 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shrapnel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of shrapnel

Henry Shrapnel †1842 English artillery officer

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1806

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

SHRAPNEL Defined for English Language Learners

shrapnel

noun

Definition of shrapnel for English Language Learners

: small metal pieces that scatter outwards from an exploding bomb, shell, or mine

SHRAPNEL Defined for Kids

shrapnel

noun shrap·nel \ ˈshrap-nᵊl \

Definition of shrapnel for Students

: small metal pieces that scatter outwards from an exploding bomb, shell, or mine

Learn More about shrapnel

See words that rhyme with shrapnel Spanish Central: Translation of shrapnel Nglish: Translation of shrapnel for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shrapnel

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Definition of shrapnel

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shrapnel

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