noun
bombshell
BOM-shehl
Bombshell (noun) means a piece of news that is shocking or sensational. Example: “The resignation was a bombshell nobody saw coming.”
noun
1
A piece of news that is shocking or sensational.
"Singer and Jeffreys had focused their attention on cancer risk, but the bombshell of the report was the danger to children."
— Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway (2010)
""This—this is a bombshell!" exclaimed the Colonel. "What does it mean?" "Politics," replied Carrados tersely."
— Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados (1923)
"The resignation was a bombshell nobody saw coming."
2
Informal term for an especially attractive person.
"She walked in looking like a total bombshell."
How to use bombshell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShocking news, or slang for a strikingly attractive person.
Common pairings
drop a bombshell
blonde bombshell
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Word forms
- Plural
- bombshells
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The resignation was a _____ nobody saw coming.
Etymology
From bomb + shell, originally an artillery shell, later applied figuratively to shocking news.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “bombshell” mean?
The word “bombshell” means a piece of news that is shocking or sensational. In plain terms, shocking news, or slang for a strikingly attractive person.
How do you pronounce “bombshell”?
“Bombshell” is pronounced BOM-shehl (/ˈbɑmʃɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “bombshell” in a sentence?
Here is “bombshell” used in a sentence: “The resignation was a bombshell nobody saw coming.”
What part of speech is “bombshell”?
“Bombshell” is a noun.
How many meanings does “bombshell” have?
“Bombshell” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece of news that is shocking or sensational.
