petrol bomb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “petrol bomb” mean?
A simple, improvised incendiary weapon, typically a glass bottle filled with petrol (gasoline) and a cloth wick that is lit before throwing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A simple, improvised incendiary weapon, typically a glass bottle filled with petrol (gasoline) and a cloth wick that is lit before throwing.
An act of violent protest or aggression; symbolically, any destructive device or action used in civil unrest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is predominantly British. The near-equivalent in American English is 'Molotov cocktail'. 'Gasoline bomb' is also understood but less common.
Connotations
In British usage, it is strongly associated with domestic political conflict (e.g., The Troubles in Northern Ireland, urban riots). In American usage, 'Molotov cocktail' carries similar connotations but is more generic for improvised explosives globally.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK/Irish news during periods of civil unrest; rare in everyday American English.
Grammar
How to Use “petrol bomb” in a Sentence
[Subject] petrol-bombed [Object] (verb)a petrol bomb [was thrown/exploded]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “petrol bomb” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Protesters threatened to petrol bomb the empty building.
- The warehouse was petrol-bombed in the early hours.
American English
- Rioters attempted to petrol bomb the precinct station. (Note: 'Molotov cocktail' is more common as a noun, but the verb form is understood.)
adjective
British English
- The petrol-bomb attack caused significant damage.
- They found petrol-bomb making materials in the flat.
American English
- The police reported a petrol-bomb style device. (Rare)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; would only appear in risk assessment reports concerning operational areas with civil unrest.
Academic
Found in political science, history, and sociology texts analysing protests, insurgencies, and low-intensity conflict.
Everyday
Almost never used in casual conversation outside of discussing specific news events related to riots.
Technical
Used in military, police, and security briefings to describe a specific type of threat. Not a formal military classification.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “petrol bomb”
- Using 'petrol bomb' as a general term for any explosive in formal AmE contexts.
- Incorrectly capitalising it as a proper noun (e.g., 'Petrol Bomb').
- Using the noun form when the verb form is needed (e.g., 'They did a petrol bomb' instead of 'They petrol-bombed').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A petrol bomb is an improvised, hand-thrown incendiary weapon. A grenade is a standardised military explosive or fragmentation device.
Yes, especially in journalistic and informal contexts (e.g., 'The barricades were petrol-bombed'). It is often hyphenated in this form.
The difference is largely lexical. 'Petrol bomb' is a descriptive term. 'Molotov cocktail' is a historical term from the Winter War (1939-40) that became generic in American English.
In many jurisdictions, including the UK and US, instructing others in the manufacture of incendiary or explosive devices can be a criminal offence, regardless of the specific terminology used.
A simple, improvised incendiary weapon, typically a glass bottle filled with petrol (gasoline) and a cloth wick that is lit before throwing.
Petrol bomb is usually informal, journalistic in register.
Petrol bomb: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɛtrəl ˌbɒm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɛtrəl ˌbɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a car's PETROL tank, but in a BOMB. It's a 'bomb' made from everyday 'petrol'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CIVIL CONFLICT IS FIRE; DISCONTENT IS A COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most precise American English equivalent for the British term 'petrol bomb'?