# blaster

/ˈbɫæstɝ/ (US) · /blˈɑːstɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blaster
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a fictional weapon that fires a beam of energy instead of a bullet. You often see these in science fiction movies like Star Wars.

For teachers: a fictional directed-energy weapon common in science fiction literature and film, typically depicted as a handheld device that emits bolts of plasma or light.

## Examples

- The hero drew his blaster and pointed it at the robot.
- In many space adventures, characters carry a blaster on their hip for protection against hostile aliens.
- The film's sound design became iconic largely due to the unique, high-pitched ricochet sound created for the handheld blaster fire during the opening corridor battle.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the context of science fiction media; informal when used to describe real-world tools like sandblasters.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.