fragmentation bomb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Military
Quick answer
What does “fragmentation bomb” mean?
A bomb designed to explode into many small, fast-moving fragments (shrapnel) intended to cause injury and damage over a wide area.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bomb designed to explode into many small, fast-moving fragments (shrapnel) intended to cause injury and damage over a wide area.
A military explosive device that functions by dispersing lethal metal fragments upon detonation. In metaphorical contexts, it can refer to something that causes widespread division or disintegration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically. The concept is universal in military jargon. The term 'cluster bomb' is sometimes used in general discourse with similar meaning, though it describes a different delivery mechanism.
Connotations
Purely technical and military. Carries strong connotations of warfare and anti-personnel weaponry.
Frequency
Rare outside military, historical, and journalistic contexts reporting on conflicts.
Grammar
How to Use “fragmentation bomb” in a Sentence
The [military] dropped a fragmentation bomb on [the position].The explosion of the fragmentation bomb caused [widespread casualties].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fragmentation bomb” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The area was heavily fragmentation-bombed during the raid.
- The tactic involved fragmenting the enemy lines.
American English
- The position was fragmentation bombed to clear the perimeter.
- The strategy was to fragment their advance.
adverb
British English
- The bomb exploded fragmentationally across the field. (Rare/constructed)
American English
- The device was designed to detonate fragmentationally. (Rare/constructed)
adjective
British English
- The fragmentation effect was devastating.
- They studied fragmentation patterns.
American English
- The weapon's fragmentation capability was its key feature.
- He suffered fragmentation injuries.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in military history, engineering, political science (studies of warfare), and international law (discussions of weapon bans).
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear in news reports about wars.
Technical
Core usage. Precise term in military ordnance, explosives engineering, and defence manuals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fragmentation bomb”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fragmentation bomb”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fragmentation bomb”
- Misspelling as 'fragment bomb' or 'fragmantation bomb'.
- Using it as a general term for any explosive, rather than specifying its fragment-dispersing mechanism.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A fragmentation bomb describes the lethal mechanism (shrapnel). A cluster bomb describes the delivery system—a large canister that releases many smaller 'bomblets', which are often fragmentation bombs. So, many cluster munitions contain fragmentation bombs.
No, it is a highly specialised military term. The average person would likely just say 'bomb' or 'explosive' unless discussing specific weapon types.
Yes, metaphorically. For example: 'The scandal was a fragmentation bomb for the government, destroying its unity.' This extends the core meaning of causing widespread division.
It is a compound noun. The word 'fragmentation' functions as a noun adjunct (acting like an adjective) modifying the head noun 'bomb'.
A bomb designed to explode into many small, fast-moving fragments (shrapnel) intended to cause injury and damage over a wide area.
Fragmentation bomb is usually technical / military in register.
Fragmentation bomb: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfræɡ.menˈteɪ.ʃən ˌbɒm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfræɡ.menˈteɪ.ʃən ˌbɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] The policy acted like a fragmentation bomb, splintering public opinion into a thousand pieces.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'fragment' (a piece broken off) + 'bomb'. The bomb's purpose is to create deadly fragments.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SOURCE OF FORCED AND VIOLENT DIVISION. (e.g., 'His speech was a fragmentation bomb for the party.')
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary lethal mechanism of a fragmentation bomb?