smokeless powder
noun
: any of a class of explosive propellants that produce comparatively little smoke on explosion and consist mostly of gelatinized nitrocellulose
Examples of smokeless powder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By the 1920s, shotshells were predominately loaded with smokeless powder, and shooters saw the benefits of smaller gauge shotguns.
—
Joe Genzel, Outdoor Life, 28 Mar. 2024
Most modern firearms and other weapons used by soldiers and civilians alike rely on smokeless powder to propel a bullet to its target.
—John Ismay, New York Times, 23 June 2023
On two separate occasions last year, railroad cars carrying tens of thousands of kilograms of smokeless powder — enough propellant to collectively make at least 80 million rounds of ammunition — rumbled across the China-Russia border at the remote town of Zabaykalsk.
—John Ismay, New York Times, 23 June 2023
The girlfriend was among the last government witnesses to testify for the prosecution, which rested its case Wednesday morning following testimony from FBI forensic examiners about materials found in Croft's home, including smokeless powder and explosive targets.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2022
Nobel later invented a more powerful form of dynamite and a smokeless powder used in firearms and artillery.
—Marylou Tousignant, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2022
About 50 cans of black or smokeless powder were found in the workspace around the pipe, according to court records.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 22 July 2021
That round burned the then new smokeless powder to push a 112-grain round nose bullet 2,560 fps.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 12 Mar. 2021
Once smokeless powder came on the scene, the NE cartridges all got a performance boost.
—John B. Snow, Field & Stream, 8 Mar. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Joe Genzel, Outdoor Life, 28 Mar. 2024
Most modern firearms and other weapons used by soldiers and civilians alike rely on smokeless powder to propel a bullet to its target.
—John Ismay, New York Times, 23 June 2023
On two separate occasions last year, railroad cars carrying tens of thousands of kilograms of smokeless powder — enough propellant to collectively make at least 80 million rounds of ammunition — rumbled across the China-Russia border at the remote town of Zabaykalsk.
—John Ismay, New York Times, 23 June 2023
The girlfriend was among the last government witnesses to testify for the prosecution, which rested its case Wednesday morning following testimony from FBI forensic examiners about materials found in Croft's home, including smokeless powder and explosive targets.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2022
Nobel later invented a more powerful form of dynamite and a smokeless powder used in firearms and artillery.
—Marylou Tousignant, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2022
About 50 cans of black or smokeless powder were found in the workspace around the pipe, according to court records.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 22 July 2021
That round burned the then new smokeless powder to push a 112-grain round nose bullet 2,560 fps.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 12 Mar. 2021
Once smokeless powder came on the scene, the NE cartridges all got a performance boost.
—John B. Snow, Field & Stream, 8 Mar. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near smokeless powder
Cite this Entry
“Smokeless powder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smokeless%20powder. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share