Dictionary

bombshell en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɒmʃɛl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbɑmʃɛl/ (General-American)
• (UK) audio

Etymology

From bomb + shell.

Meanings

1. (historical) Any grenade, mortar shell, or artillery shell (hollow metal object) containing a charge that can explode.
2. (figuratively) Something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational.
   • "This—this is a bombshell!" exclaimed the Colonel. "What does it mean?" "Politics," replied Carrados tersely. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
   • Singer and Jeffreys had focused their attention on cancer risk, but the bombshell of the report was the danger to children. 2010, Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway, chapter 5, in Merchants of Doubt:
   • U.S. President Donald Trump’s bombshell proposal to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate its Palestinian inhabitants has made the forced transfer of populations – a war crime – a policy discussion, galvanizing Arab states. 2025 February 6, Taylor Luck, Ghada Abdulfattah, “How Trump’s proposed plan for Gaza has united an outraged Arab world”, in The Christian Science Monitor:
3. (broadly) Someone who is very attractive; a sex symbol.
   • The singer once identified by her shock of green hair has gone blonde and full bombshell, swapping her trademark sweats for a style more domme than deb: pink Gucci corset and skirt over Agent Provocateur skivvies, accessorized with latex gloves and leggings. 2021 May 4, Ruth La Ferla, “On That Bombshell Billie Eilish Cover for British Vogue”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • Diana Dors, the 1950s blonde bombshell

Forms

Deriveds

drop a bombshell · blonde bombshell

Synonyms

bomb[Appendix:Glossary

Translations (69)

ga bean bhreá (someone who is very attractive) · ca obús (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · ga leadhb (someone who is very attractive) · fr obus (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · es bombazo (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · cy tân-belen (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · it notizia clamorosa (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · ga spéirbhean (someone who is very attractive) · es bombazo (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · sv bombnedslag (someone who is very attractive) · ru сенса́ция (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · de Sexbombe (someone who is very attractive) · fa خمپاره (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · pt avião (someone who is very attractive) · it bomba (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · de Granate (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · nb sexbombe (someone who is very attractive) · it granata (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · de Bombe (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · ru бо́мба (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · fr surprise (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · sv sexbomb (someone who is very attractive) · is æsifréttaefni (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · fi seksipommi (someone who is very attractive) · ca bomba (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · de Bombe (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · es bomba (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · fi pommi (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · is stórviðburður (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · es pibón (someone who is very attractive) · fi povipommi (someone who is very attractive) · is sprengja (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · hu szexbomba (someone who is very attractive) · uk бо́мба (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · pt sensação (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · pl seksbomba (someone who is very attractive) · el οβίδα (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · de Granate (someone who is very attractive) · ru снаря́д (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · is sprengikúla (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · hu bombázó (someone who is very attractive) · pt bomba (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · bg бо́мба (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · fr bombe (someone who is very attractive) · ga stumpa (someone who is very attractive) · cy taranfollt (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · pt granada (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · is þruma úr heiðskíru lofti (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · be знара́д (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · is óvænt atvik (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · pt bomba (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · is kynbomba (someone who is very attractive) · fr bombe (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · fr bombe (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · el σεξοβόμβα (someone who is very attractive) · fr avion de chasse (someone who is very attractive) · pl sensacja (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · fr bonnasse (someone who is very attractive) · ru секс-бо́мба (someone who is very attractive) · be бо́мба (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · it schianto (someone who is very attractive) · tg хумпора (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · de Explosivgeschoss (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · es bombón (someone who is very attractive) · pl pocisk (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · is æsifregn (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational) · bg снаря́д (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · uk снаря́д (a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact) · ru бо́мба (something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational)