# Molotov

/ˈmɔɫəˌtɑf/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/molotov
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a simple bomb made from a glass bottle filled with fuel and a piece of cloth. You light the cloth and throw the bottle to start a fire.

For teachers: a crude incendiary device consisting of a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid and a rag wick. Often used as a weapon in civil unrest or guerrilla warfare.

## Examples

- The protesters threw a molotov at the empty building.
- Security forces moved back as several molotovs were thrown from the crowd, causing small fires on the pavement.
- History books often describe the molotov as the weapon of choice for under-equipped resistance groups due to its low cost and the ease with which it can be manufactured from household items.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the full phrase 'Molotov cocktail'; when used alone, it remains countable.

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