Enfilade is a military word for gunfireShooting from guns, especially during combat or battle. aimed lengthwiseExtending in the direction of the long dimension. along a line of troops, vehicles, or fortificationsDefensive structures built to protect a place from attack.. It can also be used as a verb meaning to rake a target with that kind of fire.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌɛnfəˈleɪd/
Easy pronunciation: en-fuh-LADE (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the last syllable.
Used as a noun in the military sense: gunfire directed along the length of a formation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Enfilade Meaning
gunfire that travels along the side of a line of soldiers or defenses
Part of speech: noun
Definition: Gunfire directed along the length rather than the breadth of a formation.
Example: The attackers used enfilade to hit the trench from the side.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- enfilade fire — The only supplied synonym, and it matches this military noun sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Enfilade
Meaning 2
to fire along the length of a target or to be positioned to do that
Part of speech: verb
Definition: Rake or be in a position to rake with gunfire in a lengthwise direction.
Example: The troops enfiladed the road from the hillside.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Enfilade Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- enfilade fire
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse enfilade with a general attack or bombardment, but it specifically refers to fire aimed lengthwise.
- It is also not a word for any side attack; the key idea is firing along the length of a formation or position.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does enfilade mean in simple English?
It means gunfire aimed along the length of a line or position, rather than straight across it.
Is enfilade a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a noun, it means that kind of gunfire. As a verb, it means to fire in that way.
What is a synonym for enfilade?
For the noun sense, the supplied synonym is enfilade fire. There are no other strong synonyms in the provided data.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.