noun
gunboat
GUHN-boht
noun
1
A small, lightly armed warship, historically used for coastal patrol or river operations.
"A gunboat patrolled the river to protect merchant vessels."
How to Use Gunboat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small armed naval vessel, smaller than a full warship.
Common mistake
"Gunboat diplomacy" is a common set phrase meaning the use of military threat to achieve political ends.
Common pairings
gunboat diplomacy
Word Forms
gunboats plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “gunboat”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ patrolled the river to protect merchant vessels.
Etymology
A compound of gun and boat.