bazooka: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Military, Informal, Historical, Slang (metaphorical)
Quick answer
What does “bazooka” mean?
A portable, shoulder-fired, anti-tank rocket launcher used by infantry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A portable, shoulder-fired, anti-tank rocket launcher used by infantry.
Also used metaphorically to refer to something large, powerful, or blunt, or as a brand name for large bubble gum or candy items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core military meaning. Metaphorical usage ('bazooka approach') may be slightly more common in US financial/business journalism (e.g., 'bazooka stimulus').
Connotations
Connotes WWII/Korean War military history in both dialects. Metaphorically, it suggests a disproportionate, overwhelming response.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation. Appears in historical contexts, military discussions, and specific metaphorical phrases in journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “bazooka” in a Sentence
fire a bazooka at [target]armed with a bazookaa bazooka team of [number]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bazooka” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The infantry unit was trained to bazooka enemy armour from concealed positions.
- They planned to bazooka the bunker at dawn.
American English
- The marines were ordered to bazooka the tank emplacement.
- He bazookaed the target in one clean shot.
adjective
British English
- The bazooka team took up a defensive position.
- They faced a bazooka attack from the ridge.
American English
- The bazooka round penetrated the hull.
- He had a bazooka-like intensity in his approach.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorical in finance: 'The central bank pulled out the bazooka with quantitative easing.'
Academic
Limited to military history, technology, or political science papers discussing asymmetric warfare.
Everyday
Very rare unless discussing history, video games, or the bubble gum brand.
Technical
Specific in military science and infantry weapons manuals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bazooka”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bazooka”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bazooka”
- Using it as a general term for any rocket launcher (it's a specific historical type).
- Confusing the weapon with the bubble gum in translation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is a specific weapon, it is also a well-known brand of bubble gum and is used metaphorically to describe an overwhelmingly powerful or blunt tool or action.
The weapon was named after a crude musical wind instrument called a 'bazooka' created and popularised by American comedian Bob Burns in the 1930s, which it resembled.
Yes, informally, especially in military or gaming contexts (e.g., 'to bazooka a tank'), meaning to attack or destroy with a bazooka.
A bazooka is a specific, mostly American, line of recoilless rocket anti-tank weapons from WWII and the Cold War. RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) is a broader, often Soviet/Russian-origin category of similar weapons. They function similarly but are distinct designs.
A portable, shoulder-fired, anti-tank rocket launcher used by infantry.
Bazooka is usually military, informal, historical, slang (metaphorical) in register.
Bazooka: in British English it is pronounced /bəˈzuː.kə/, and in American English it is pronounced /bəˈzuː.kə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bring a bazooka to a knife fight (metaphor for overkill)”
- “the financial bazooka”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'ZOO' in the middle – a weapon so loud it scares the animals in the zoo.
Conceptual Metaphor
POWER IS A LARGE WEAPON; SOLUTIONS ARE WEAPONS (metaphorical use).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary, non-metaphorical meaning of 'bazooka'?