noun
Uncommon
Molotov
MO-luh-tov
Molotov (noun) means Short for Molotov cocktail — a crude homemade bomb made from a bottle filled with flammable liquid and lit with a rag fuse. Example: “Protesters hurled molotovs at the barricade.”
noun
1
Short for Molotov cocktail — a crude homemade bomb made from a bottle filled with flammable liquid and lit with a rag fuse.
"Protesters hurled molotovs at the barricade."
"The rioters had crates of molotovs stacked behind the wall."
verb
1
To attack someone or something by throwing a Molotov cocktail.
"The building was molotoved during the unrest."
How to use Molotov
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA homemade firebomb, or the act of throwing one.
Common mistake
Always lowercase and informal when used as a verb or short noun; "Molotov cocktail" is the fuller, more formal term.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Molotovs
- Third person singular
- Molotovs
- Past tense
- Molotoved
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Protesters hurled _____ at the barricade.
Etymology
Named after the Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov — the Finns coined the term mockingly during the 1939-40 Winter War.
Class of 1939
Molotov joined the language around 1939.
See the full Class of 1939 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “Molotov” mean?
The word “Molotov” means short for Molotov cocktail — a crude homemade bomb made from a bottle filled with flammable liquid and lit with a rag fuse. In plain terms, a homemade firebomb, or the act of throwing one.
How do you pronounce “Molotov”?
“Molotov” is pronounced MO-luh-tov (/ˈmɑ.lə.tɑv/ in IPA).
How do you use “Molotov” in a sentence?
Here is “Molotov” used in a sentence: “Protesters hurled molotovs at the barricade.”
What part of speech is “Molotov”?
Depending on how it is used, “Molotov” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “Molotov” come from?
The word “Molotov” dates back to around 1939. Named after the Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov — the Finns coined the term mockingly during the 1939-40 Winter War.
Is “Molotov” a common word?
“Molotov” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Molotov” have?
“Molotov” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: short for Molotov cocktail — a crude homemade bomb made from a bottle filled with flammable liquid and lit with a rag fuse.
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