molotov: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal / Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “molotov” mean?
A simple incendiary weapon, typically a glass bottle filled with a flammable liquid and a wick, used as a hand-thrown firebomb.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A simple incendiary weapon, typically a glass bottle filled with a flammable liquid and a wick, used as a hand-thrown firebomb.
An improvised explosive or incendiary device, often associated with riots, guerrilla warfare, or protest movements. By extension, can refer to any crude, improvised explosive device or a highly volatile situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, though the word 'petrol' is used in UK contexts and 'gasoline' or 'gas' in US contexts when describing the contents.
Connotations
Identical strong connotations of violence and civil disorder.
Frequency
Comparatively low frequency in both varieties, spiking in news reports during periods of civil unrest.
Grammar
How to Use “molotov” in a Sentence
[Person/Group] threw a Molotov cocktail at [Target]Protesters armed themselves with Molotov cocktails.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “molotov” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Protesters threatened to molotov the embassy gates.
- The rioters were preparing to molotov police vehicles.
American English
- Demonstrators were arrested for attempting to molotov a courthouse.
- The group planned to molotov the empty warehouse.
adverb
British English
- The attack was carried out molotov-style.
- It was a molotov-type device.
American English
- The device was constructed molotov-fashion.
- They acted in a molotov-like manner.
adjective
British English
- They faced charges for molotov attacks on government property.
- The gang's molotov arsenal was discovered in a lock-up.
American English
- The building showed signs of molotov damage.
- He was charged under molotov-related statutes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Potentially metaphorical: 'The merger created a Molotov cocktail of cultural clashes.'
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or sociology texts discussing civil unrest, guerrilla tactics, or protest movements.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Used when discussing news events involving riots or extreme protests.
Technical
Used in military, law enforcement, or security contexts to describe a specific type of improvised incendiary weapon.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “molotov”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “molotov”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “molotov”
- Incorrect capitalisation (Molotov vs. molotov).
- Using it as a verb without 'cocktail' (e.g., 'They molotoved the building' is non-standard).
- Misspelling as 'mollotov' or 'molotof'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is named ironically after Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet foreign minister during WWII. The name was reportedly coined by Finnish soldiers during the Winter War (1939-40).
Yes, though it's informal and derives from the noun. It means to attack with a Molotov cocktail (e.g., 'The building was molotoved').
Historically, yes, but modern dictionaries (like Oxford and Merriam-Webster) often list it with a lowercase 'm' ('molotov cocktail'), treating it as a standardised term.
A Molotov cocktail is a simple, improvised incendiary device designed to start fires. A grenade is typically a manufactured explosive or fragmentation weapon designed to cause damage through blast and shrapnel.
A simple incendiary weapon, typically a glass bottle filled with a flammable liquid and a wick, used as a hand-thrown firebomb.
Molotov is usually informal / journalistic in register.
Molotov: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒləˌtɒv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːləˌtɔːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Molotov cocktail of [emotions/situations]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MOLOtov' - the first part 'MOLO' sounds like 'mellow', but there's nothing mellow about a firebomb. Remember it as a 'mellow' word for a very violent object.
Conceptual Metaphor
VOLATILE MIXTURE IS A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL (e.g., 'His speech was a Molotov cocktail of grievance and conspiracy theories.')
Practice
Quiz
The term 'Molotov cocktail' is most closely associated with which context?