What does "gunmetal" mean?
A type of bronze used for making cannons.
Gunmetal
/ˈɡʌnmɛt(ə)l/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A type of bronze used for making cannons.
- Grammar: gunmetal is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bearing alloy, bearing bronze, bronze alloy, charcoal.
- Useful contrasts: ceramic bearing, colorless, nonmetallic.
- Usage evidence: The beſt Guns are not made of malleable Metal, and cannot be made of pure Copper or Braß; but it is neceſſary to put in courſer Metals to make it run cloſer and ſounder, as Lead and Pot-metal. […] About 20l. of Lead is uſually put into 100l. of Pot-metal; but about 6l. is ſufficient to put into 100l. of Gun-metal.
How to use "gunmetal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gunmetal" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "gunmetal" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "gunmetal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "gunmetal" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "gunmetal" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bearing alloy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "gunmetal", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A type of bronze used for making cannons. countable, historical, uncountable
"The beſt Guns are not made of malleable Metal, and cannot be made of pure Copper or Braß; but it is neceſſary to put in courſer Metals to make it run cloſer and ſounder, as Lead and Pot-metal. […] About 20l. of Lead is uſually put into 100l. of Pot-metal; but about 6l. is ſufficient to put into 100l. of Gun-metal."
- 2 a type of bronze used for parts subject to wear or corrosion (especially corrosion by sea water) wordnet
- 3 An alloy of 88% copper, 10% tin and 2% zinc, originally used for making guns. countable, uncountable
"The pump [of the steam fire-engine], being at the forward end, was made of gun metal and was double acting, having eight brass suction-valves, four on each side, and four discharge valves, opening into the air vessels, to which a double discharge valve, having one opening on the inside and two on the outside, was attached for the purpose of using two lines of hose."
- 4 A dark grey or bluish-grey colour; gunmetal grey. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
"Yet even asleep, a Sabre, Jaguar, Harrier, Phantom, Falcon or Eagle holds the eye as a design classic, and that worrisome beauty is still there close up—the cared for, nurtured, spoiled feel, the expensive finish, the quality of the materials, the craftsmanship evident in the flush rivets, the highly polished canopy, the gunmetal sheen of the external instrument sensors, each carefully protected by rubber sheaths with flapping red tags to remind the pilot to take them off before flight."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The beſt Guns are not made of malleable Metal, and cannot be made of pure Copper or Braß; but it is neceſſary to put in courſer Metals to make it run cloſer and ſounder, as Lead and Pot-metal. […] About 20l. of Lead is uſually put into 100l. of Pot-metal; but about 6l. is ſufficient to put into 100l. of Gun-metal."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gunmetal"?
Common synonyms include: bearing alloy, bearing bronze, bronze alloy, charcoal, copper alloy, gray.
How do you use "gunmetal" in a sentence?
The beſt Guns are not made of malleable Metal, and cannot be made of pure Copper or Braß; but it is neceſſary to put in courſer Metals to make it run cloſer and ſounder, as Lead and Pot-metal. […] About 20l. of Lead is uſually put into 100l. of Pot-metal; but about 6l. is ſufficient to put into 100l. of Gun-metal.
How do you pronounce "gunmetal"?
Pronounced /ˈɡʌnmɛt(ə)l/.
Etymology
From gun + metal.