improvised explosive device

noun

An unconventional or amateur explosive weapon made from nonmilitary components, especially one used by guerrillas, commandos or terrorists.

Similar
I.E.D.IED
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Meanings

nounimprovised explosive device (plural improvised explosive devices)

plural improvised explosive devices · alternative IED

  1. An unconventional or amateur explosive weapon made from nonmilitary components, especially one used by guerrillas, commandos or terrorists.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan explosive device that is improvised

Similar
I.E.D.IED
Broader
explosive device

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

As a descriptive term, appearing in the early 20th century. In the narrower sense describing weapons of irregulars and terrorists, popularized in the British Army during the Troubles and in the US during the Iraq War.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan artefacte explosiu improvisat
  • artefacte explosiu improvisatexplosive weapon — see also IED
Chinese Mandarin 簡易爆炸裝置 /简易爆炸装置, 土製炸彈 /土制炸弹
  • 簡易爆炸裝置 /简易爆炸装置 (jiǎnyì bàozhà zhuāngzhì)explosive weapon — see also IED
  • 土製炸彈 /土制炸弹 (tǔzhì zhàdàn)explosive weapon — see also IED
  • 應急爆炸裝置 /应急爆炸装置 (yìngjí bàozhà zhuāngzhì)explosive weapon — see also IED
Finnish omatekoinen räjähde
  • omatekoinen räjähdeexplosive weapon — see also IED
French dispositif explosif improvisé, engin explosif improvisé
  • dispositif explosif improviséexplosive weapon — see also IED
  • engin explosif improviséexplosive weapon — see also IED
  • engin explosif de circonstanceexplosive weapon — see also IED
German unkonventionelle Spreng- und Brandvorrichtung
  • unkonventionelle Spreng- und Brandvorrichtungexplosive weapon — see also IED
Hebrew מטען צד
  • מטען צדexplosive weapon — see also IED
Hungarian rögtönzött robbanóeszköz
  • rögtönzött robbanóeszközexplosive weapon — see also IED
Irish feiste phléascach sheiftithe
  • feiste phléascach sheiftitheexplosive weapon — see also IED
Italian ordigno esplosivo improvvisato
  • ordigno esplosivo improvvisatoexplosive weapon — see also IED
Japanese 即席爆発装置
  • 即席爆発装置 (sokuseki bakuhatsu sōchi)explosive weapon — see also IED
Korean 급조폭발물
  • 급조폭발물 (geupjopokbalmul)explosive weapon — see also IED
Polish fugas
  • fugasexplosive weapon — see also IED
Portuguese artefato explosivo improvisado
  • artefato explosivo improvisadoexplosive weapon — see also IED
Russian самоде́льное взрывно́е устро́йство
  • самоде́льное взрывно́е устро́йство (samodélʹnoje vzryvnóje ustrójstvo)explosive weapon — see also IED
Swedish improviserade sprängmedel
  • improviserade sprängmedelexplosive weapon — see also IED
Turkish doğaçlama infilak aygıtı, el yapımı patlayıcı
  • doğaçlama infilak aygıtıexplosive weapon — see also IED
  • el yapımı patlayıcıexplosive weapon — see also IED
Ukrainian саморо́бний вибухо́вий при́стрій
  • саморо́бний вибухо́вий при́стрій (samoróbnyj vybuxóvyj prýstrij)explosive weapon — see also IED
Vietnamese thiết bị nổ tự chế
  • thiết bị nổ tự chếexplosive weapon — see also IED
Cite this entry
APA

improvised explosive device. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/improvised%20explosive%20device

MLA

“improvised explosive device.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/improvised%20explosive%20device. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “improvised explosive device,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/improvised%20explosive%20device.

Source: improvised explosive device on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.