A blunderbussAn old firearm with a short barrel and a wide opening is an old kind of gun with a short barrel and a wide, flared muzzle. The word is mostly used in historicalRelated to the past or to events in earlier times writing or in figurativeUsing language imaginatively, not in the literal sense language today.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈblʌndərˌbʌs/
Easy pronunciation: BLUN-der-buss (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the first syllable, with secondary stress on the last syllable.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Blunderbuss Meaning
an old short gun with a wide opening at the end
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a short musket with a wide bore and a flared muzzle
Example: The museum display included an old blunderbuss from the 1700s.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use blunderbuss figuratively for something broad or indiscriminate, but that is not the main literal dictionary sense.
- Do not confuse blunderbuss with modern shotguns; it refers to an old historical firearm.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does blunderbuss mean?
A blunderbuss is an old firearm with a short barrel and a wide, flared muzzle.
Is blunderbuss still used today?
Not as a normal everyday weapon. It is mainly a historical term now.
What is a simple synonym for blunderbuss?
There is no perfect everyday synonym. The closest simple phrase is "old short gun."
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.