What does gunpowder mean?
Gunpowder is an explosive substance traditionally made by combining potassium nitrate, known as saltpeter, with charcoal and sulfur. It was used for centuries to fire guns, pistols, and artillery, and it played a major role in the development of firearms and warfare. The familiar black powder differs from modern smokeless propellants: it burns rapidly, producing a substantial cloud of smoke and, in an enclosed space, potentially dangerous pressure. Today, gunpowder is most often encountered in historical accounts, literature, and discussions of the Gunpowder Plot. The word can sound vivid and slightly archaic, while also carrying strong associations with conflict, danger, and technological change. When precision matters, black powder is often the more technical term for the historic mixture.
nounAn explosive powder traditionally made from potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur, used in guns and artillery. In modern usage, it usually refers to the historic black-powder propellant rather than modern smokeless powder.
- An explosive propellant traditionally consisting of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur, used in firearms and artillery.
"The old cannon was loaded with gunpowder before the battle."
"The powder room was carefully guarded because it stored large quantities of gunpowder."
"The novel describes a conspiracy to blow up the king with gunpowder."
Gunpowder is normally an uncountable mass noun. The plural is uncommon and may refer to distinct kinds or supplies of gunpowder.
"The museum displayed gunpowders of different compositions."
Gunpowder was a chemical recipe that transformed warfare: saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur could propel a projectile through iron.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gunpowder come from?
Gunpowder is an English compound formed from the older words gun and powder. The word emerged in the late Middle English period, when firearms and gunpowder had become established in Europe. Gunpowder belongs to a broader family of compounds such as gunner, while powder connects it to words including powdery and powdered.
How gunpowder is actually used
The term is chiefly historical or literary today. It usually denotes traditional black powder and should not be used as a general term for every modern firearm propellant, such as smokeless powder.