What does torpedo mean?
A torpedo is a self-propelled underwater weapon designed to travel through water and carry an explosive charge to its target. Modern torpedoes may be guided toward ships and can be launched from submarines, aircraft, ships, or other platforms. The word can also denote an electric ray, a fish capable of producing an electric shock. As a verb, “to torpedo” means to attack with a torpedo and, figuratively, to deliberately ruin or sabotage a plan, career, negotiation, or other undertaking. This figurative use is common in journalism and ordinary conversation. The word has military and technological associations, but its historical connection with numbness and the electric ray adds a less familiar dimension. A torpedo’s plural is “torpedoes,” pronounced with the stress on the first syllable.
A self-propelled underwater weapon carrying an explosive charge, or more generally an explosive device propelled through water. In zoological usage, the word can also denote an electric ray.
"The destroyer launched a torpedo toward the submerged submarine."
The military sense is dominant today; the electric-ray sense is less common but established.
To attack or destroy something with a torpedo. Figuratively, it means to sabotage or bring about the ruin of a plan, opportunity, or undertaking.
"A sudden cut in funding torpedoed the project."
The figurative sense is widely used in journalism and informal speech.
The plural noun is “torpedoes.” The same form is also the third-person singular present form of the verb.
"The submarine fired two torpedoes."
Before “torpedo” became a weapon, it was also the name of an electric ray—a fish whose powerful shock could leave a person numb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of torpedo
English borrowed the word through French, with influence from Italian and Latin forms such as torpedine and torpedo. Latin torpedo meant “numbness” and was also the name of the electric ray, whose shock was associated with that sensation; the same Latin root underlies words such as torpid and torpor. The military sense developed through earlier names for explosive devices sent through water and later for self-propelled underwater weapons.
Related word forms
How torpedo is actually used
The noun is chiefly military and technical, while the verb is common in journalism and informal figurative use. As a verb, “torpedo” is normally transitive and takes an object.
Easily confused with torpedo
A tarpit is a deep hole or place where liquid collects and vehicles may become stuck, whereas a torpedo is an underwater weapon or an electric ray.