Gunpowder is a chemical mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur used in gunnery and blasting.

The term gunpowder is also commonly used to describe any of the various powders used in guns as propellant.

related:

• black powder
• smokeless powder

 

Footnotes / Sources:

SAMMI shows gunpowder is two words (gun powder) and Merriam-Webster, and WordNet show it as one (gunpowder).

“gunpowder ⇒.” Merriam-Webster. Web. 8 May 2014.

“gunpowder ⇒.” WordNet. The Trustees of Princeton University. Web. 8 May 2014.

“Glossary ⇒.” Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute. Ed. SAAMI’s Technical Committee. Web. 15-18 Jan. 2011.