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Definition of gunboat
gunboat
/ˈɡʌn.boʊt/
Plural:gunboats
gunboat Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
gunboat Game Scores & Validity
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Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A small, relatively fast naval vessel designed with a shallow draft and armed with heavy artillery, traditionally used for patrolling coastal waters or rivers.
Example
"The historical maritime museum recently acquired a fully restored steam-powered gunboat from the late nineteenth century."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for gunboatWord Nuance & Usage
While primarily a historical naval term, the word is frequently used attributively in modern contexts within the phrase 'gunboat diplomacy' to denote aggressive foreign policy supported by the threat of military force.
Word Origin & Etymology
Originates from the late 18th century, compounding 'gun' and 'boat' to describe small, shallow-draft vessels designed to carry a single heavy gun for coastal or riverine defense.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gunboat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gunboat