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noun

kamikaze

kah-mih-KAH-zee
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Kamikaze (noun) means a suicide attack, or the person who carries one out, especially by deliberately crashing an aircraft into a target. Example: “The museum has a wing devoted to the history of kamikaze pilots in World War II.”

noun
1
A suicide attack, or the person who carries one out, especially by deliberately crashing an aircraft into a target.
"The museum has a wing devoted to the history of kamikaze pilots in World War II."
"Historians still debate how many kamikaze attacks actually reached their targets."
2
Informally, someone who takes wildly excessive risks, as if their own safety doesn’t matter.
"He took the corner like a kamikaze, tyres screeching."
"Riding without a helmet like that is kamikaze behaviour."
3
A cocktail made from equal parts vodka, triple sec, and lime juice.
"The bar was famous for its ice-cold kamikazes."
adj
1
Reckless or suicidal, showing no regard for personal safety.
"It was a kamikaze move to overtake on that bend."

How to use kamikaze

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA deliberate, often fatal, act of extreme recklessness — from its historical military sense to its everyday use for anyone taking crazy risks.

When to use it

The historical military sense is neutral/factual; the "reckless person" sense is informal and can sound flippant given the word’s origin, so use it with some care.

Common pairings
kamikaze pilot kamikaze attack kamikaze move
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Word forms

Plural
kamikazes
Third person singular
kamikazes
Past tense
kamikazed
Test yourself on “kamikaze” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum has a wing devoted to the history of _____ pilots in World War II.

Etymology

From Japanese kamikaze, literally "divine wind" — originally the name for the typhoon that wrecked a Mongol invasion fleet off Japan in 1281, later applied to WWII suicide pilots who saw themselves in the same protective role.

Origin: Japanese · First attested 1281

Class of 1281 kamikaze joined the language around 1281.
See the full Class of 1281 →

Rhymes for kamikaze

faze haze daze gaze maze raze baze amaze blaze craze glaze graze
See all rhymes for kamikaze →

Frequently asked questions

What does “kamikaze” mean?
The word “kamikaze” means a suicide attack, or the person who carries one out, especially by deliberately crashing an aircraft into a target. In plain terms, a deliberate, often fatal, act of extreme recklessness — from its historical military sense to its everyday use for anyone taking crazy risks.
How do you pronounce “kamikaze”?
“Kamikaze” is pronounced kah-mih-KAH-zee (/ˌkɑ.mɪˈkɑ.zi/ in IPA).
How do you use “kamikaze” in a sentence?
Here is “kamikaze” used in a sentence: “The museum has a wing devoted to the history of kamikaze pilots in World War II.”
What part of speech is “kamikaze”?
Depending on how it is used, “kamikaze” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “kamikaze” come from?
The word “kamikaze” dates back to around 1281 and comes from Japanese.
How many meanings does “kamikaze” have?
“Kamikaze” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a suicide attack, or the person who carries one out, especially by deliberately crashing an aircraft into a target.

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Words with Japanese origins Words that start with K