water cannon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequencyFormal, Technical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “water cannon” mean?
A large, vehicle-mounted device that projects a powerful jet of water, typically used for crowd control or riot suppression.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, vehicle-mounted device that projects a powerful jet of water, typically used for crowd control or riot suppression.
1. A large hose or cannon-like device used to disperse crowds with high-pressure water. 2. Any powerful water jet device used in industrial firefighting. 3. Metaphorically, a strong and forceful response to a situation or criticism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology is identical; no major lexical differences. The concept and device are the same.
Connotations
Strongly associated with civil unrest, police action, and sometimes human rights debates in both regions.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, appearing mainly in news reports related to protests.
Grammar
How to Use “water cannon” in a Sentence
The police used [the/a] water cannon on [the protesters].[The/A] water cannon was deployed to [disperse the crowd].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “water cannon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The authorities decided not to water-cannon the demonstrators.
- The truck can be fitted to water-cannon a fire.
American English
- The police were authorized to water-cannon the rioters.
- The vehicle is designed to water-cannon industrial blazes.
adverb
British English
- The crowd was dispersed water-cannon forcefully.
American English
- The police responded water-cannon aggressively.
adjective
British English
- The water-cannon tactics were controversial.
- A water-cannon unit arrived at the scene.
American English
- Water-cannon use requires strict protocols.
- The city purchased a new water-cannon truck.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable; not used in standard business contexts.
Academic
Found in political science, sociology, or law enforcement studies discussing protest policing.
Everyday
Used when discussing news events involving protests and police action.
Technical
Precise term in law enforcement, public order management, and industrial firefighting.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “water cannon”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “water cannon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “water cannon”
- Misspelling as 'watercanon' (should be two words).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The police water cannoned the crowd' – non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words ('water cannon'), though hyphenated forms ('water-cannon') are sometimes seen when used as a modifier.
Yes. The high-pressure water jet can cause bruises, fractures, and other injuries, especially at close range or in cold weather.
Yes, powerful water cannons are also used in industrial and airport firefighting, but the term is most commonly associated with public order policing.
In some contexts, it is called a 'water cannon truck', 'water jet truck', or simply 'water truck' (though the latter is less specific).
A large, vehicle-mounted device that projects a powerful jet of water, typically used for crowd control or riot suppression.
Water cannon is usually formal, technical, journalistic in register.
Water cannon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɔːtə ˌkænən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɔːt̬ɚ ˌkænən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To turn the water cannon on someone/something (figurative: to strongly criticize).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CANNON that shoots WATER instead of cannonballs, used to push back crowds.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORCE IS A LIQUID JET (a powerful, directed, and overwhelming force).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is a 'water cannon' LEAST likely to be used?