Search Dictionary
Definition of dumdum

dumdum

/ˈdʌm.dʌm/
dum · dum
Plural:dumdums
JUMP TO:

dumdum Lexical Profile

dumdum Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A stupid, foolish, or slow-witted person (used informally).

Example

"He felt like a total dumdum after locking his keys inside the running car."

2

A soft-nosed or hollow-point bullet designed to expand upon impact, inflicting severe tissue damage.

Example

"The international treaty strictly prohibited the use of dumdums in conventional warfare."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dumdum
Antonyms
View all antonyms for dumdum

• Nearby Words

dumbstricken
dumbstruck
dumbwaiter
dumdum
dummy
dump
dumpee

Word Origin & Etymology

The ballistic sense derives from Dum-Dum, a town and British military arsenal near Kolkata, India, where the expanding bullet was first developed in the late 1890s. The informal sense meaning 'a stupid person' is an unrelated 20th-century reduplication of the adjective 'dumb'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dumdum. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dumdum
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.