English · Word Candidate

explosive

/ɛkˈspləʊsɪv/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: explosives

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Able to, or likely to, explode.

Adjective

Examples

an explosive device

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Having the character of an explosion.

Adjective

Examples

an explosive fire

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Any explosive substance.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A plosive.

NounRegister: dated

Examples

The words of these songs were either without meaning, or derived from an idiom with which Watt, a very fair linguist, had no acquaintance. The open a sound was predominant, and the explosives k and g.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “explosive” mean?

Able to, or likely to, explode.

Is “explosive” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.