kamikaze

[ kah-mi-kah-zee ]

noun

1. (during World War II) a member of a special corps in the Japanese air force charged with the suicidal mission of crashing an aircraft laden with explosives into an enemy target, especially a warship.
2. an airplane used for this purpose.
3. a person or thing that behaves in a wildly reckless or destructive manner:

   We were nearly run down by a kamikaze on a motorcycle.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, undertaken by, or characteristic of a kamikaze:

   a kamikaze pilot; a kamikaze attack.

kamikaze

/ ˌkæmɪˈkɑːzɪ /

noun

1. (in World War II) one of a group of Japanese pilots who performed suicidal missions by crashing their aircraft, loaded with explosives, into an enemy target, esp a ship
2. an aircraft used for such a mission
3. modifier (of an action) undertaken or (of a person) undertaking an action in the knowledge that it will result in the death of the person performing it in order that maximum damage may be inflicted on an enemy

   a kamikaze bomber

   a kamikaze attack

4. modifier extremely foolhardy and possibly self-defeating

   kamikaze pricing

kamikaze

1. Japanese fighter pilots in World War II , trained to make suicide crashes into Allied ships.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kamikaze¹

1940–45; < Japanese, equivalent to kami ( y ) god (earlier *kamui ) + kaze wind (earlier *kanzai

Word History and Origins

Origin of kamikaze¹

C20: from Japanese, from kami divine + kaze wind, referring to the winds that, according to Japanese tradition, destroyed a Mongol invasion fleet in 1281

Example Sentences

The bomb, which exploded at Miyazaki Airport in south-west Japan, is thought to have been dropped during World War Two to stem "kamikaze" planes on suicide missions.

From BBC

Russian troops advanced so close that their artillery and kamikaze drones targeted anyone and anything moving on that road.

From BBC

It has demonstrated more sophisticated weapons in recent months, including kamikaze drones and longer range projectiles.

From Los Angeles Times

Drones have been used extensively throughout the war, for surveillance, targeting, launching missiles and as "kamikaze" weapons.

From BBC

Last week, the Houthis used kamikaze drone boats to attack two vessels in the Red Sea.

From Los Angeles Times