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Definition of shrapnel

shrapnel

/ˈʃræp.nəl/
shrap · nel
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shrapnel Lexical Profile

shrapnel Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Fragments of a bomb, shell, or other object thrown out by an explosion.

Example

"Archaeologists surveying the historic battlefield recovered pieces of rusted shrapnel embedded in the soil."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shrapnel

• Rhymes for shrapnel

• Nearby Words

showwoman
showy
shoyu
shrapnel
shred
shredded
shredder

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century as an eponym after General Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), a British Army artillery officer who invented a hollow cannonball filled with lead shot designed to burst in midair.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shrapnel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shrapnel
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