Etymologically
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explosive

Etymology and origin of the English word explosive

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1667
From
Latin explosus
Ultimate origin
Latin (explosus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪv/, US /ɪkˈsploʊ.sɪv/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin explōsus, past participle of explōdere, to drive out, reject (see explode and explosion), and -ive.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Tending to drive something out with violence and noise: 1667 in the OED and Merriam-Webster, the 1660s in Etymonline.[4][3][2]

Semantic evolution

Produced by an explosion is from 1735,[4] and tending to explode or go off with a loud noise from 1796.[4] In phonetics, of a consonant produced by a burst of breath, it is from 1854 (now usually plosive).[4][5] The noun, an explosive substance, is from 1849 in Merriam-Webster, 1874 in Etymonline.[3][2] Of a situation or temper, liable to burst out in violence or anger, is a figurative use.[6][5]

Timeline

  • 1667 – driving out violently.[4]
  • 1796 – liable to explode.[4]
  • 1849 – an explosive (noun).[3]
  • 1854 – of a consonant.[4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Able or likely to explode.
  2. Of or like an explosion.
  3. Likely to lead to violence or anger: an explosive situation.
  4. Sudden and rapid: explosive growth.

Noun

  1. A substance that can be made to explode, such as dynamite.

Word family

  • explosively
  • explosiveness
  • inexplosive
  • nonexplosive
  • unexplosive
  • high explosive
  • low explosive
  • plastic explosive
  • explode
  • explosion
  • plosive
  • applause

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Explosive.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/explosive. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·