noun
shrapnel
SHRAP-nuhl
noun
1
Metal fragments or fragments thrown out by an exploding shell, bomb, or mine.
"Doctors spent hours removing shrapnel from the soldier's leg."
"The old wall was still pitted with shrapnel scars from the war."
2
Loose change or small coins (informal).
"He emptied a pocketful of shrapnel onto the counter to pay for his coffee."
How to Use Shrapnel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSharp metal fragments from an explosion, or, informally, a pocketful of loose coins.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the general sense of "shrapnel" (any debris from an explosion) with its original, narrower meaning: a specific type of anti-personnel artillery shell.
Common pairings
shrapnel wound
piece of shrapnel
pocketful of shrapnel
Word Forms
shrapnels plural, Shrapnels plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “shrapnel”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Doctors spent hours removing _____ from the soldier's leg.
Etymology
Named after British army officer Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), who invented an artillery shell designed to scatter bullets over a wide area before impact.