noun
blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg (noun) means a fast, aggressive military offensive that relies on speed, surprise, and concentrated force, especially tanks with air support. Example: “German forces used blitzkrieg tactics to overrun Poland quickly.”
noun
1
A fast, aggressive military offensive that relies on speed, surprise, and concentrated force, especially tanks with air support.
"But news that the North Vietnamese had launched an invasion more akin to the blitzkrieg of Poland than to a Maoist "people's war," and had overrun my old base camp 30 miles up Thunder Road from Saigon, turned my heart to lead."
— Walter A. McDougall, Who Were We in Vietnam? (2000)
"German forces used blitzkrieg tactics to overrun Poland quickly."
2
A sudden, intense burst of activity.
"The team launched a marketing blitzkrieg before the product launch."
"President-elect Donald Trump has promised a blitzkrieg of executive actions and legislation after he takes office Jan. 20."
— Simon Montlake, Electing a speaker is first test for GOP with razor-thin control of House (2025)
How to use blitzkrieg
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA lightning-fast, overwhelming military attack, or figuratively any sudden burst of intense activity.
Common pairings
blitzkrieg tactics
blitzkrieg offensive
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Word forms
- Plural
- blitzkriegs
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German forces used _____ tactics to overrun Poland quickly.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from German Blitzkrieg, literally "lightning war," describing the fast-moving armoured warfare tactics of the Second World War.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for blitzkrieg
See all rhymes for blitzkrieg →Frequently asked questions
What does “blitzkrieg” mean?
The word “blitzkrieg” means a fast, aggressive military offensive that relies on speed, surprise, and concentrated force, especially tanks with air support. In plain terms, a lightning-fast, overwhelming military attack, or figuratively any sudden burst of intense activity.
How do you use “blitzkrieg” in a sentence?
Here is “blitzkrieg” used in a sentence: “German forces used blitzkrieg tactics to overrun Poland quickly.”
What part of speech is “blitzkrieg”?
“Blitzkrieg” is a noun.
Where does the word “blitzkrieg” come from?
The word “blitzkrieg” comes from German. Borrowed directly from German Blitzkrieg, literally "lightning war," describing the fast-moving armoured warfare tactics of the Second World War.
How many meanings does “blitzkrieg” have?
“Blitzkrieg” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fast, aggressive military offensive that relies on speed, surprise, and concentrated force, especially tanks with air support.
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