WordGarden.iokamikaze
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kˌæmɪkˈɑːzi/
US
- /ˌkɑməˈkɑzi/
Meanings
Adjective
involving a deliberate self-sacrificial attack or crash
recklessly self-destructive or wildly risky
Noun
a person who deliberately dies while carrying out an attack, especially a pilot
a cocktail typically made with vodka, triple sec, and lime juice
Beyond the definition
The word kamikaze carries a heavy historical meaning. It originally meant "divine wind" in Japanese and referred to the typhoons that twice protected Japan from Mongol invasions. In modern English, though, it is mainly linked to World War II, when Japanese pilots deliberately crashed their planes into Allied ships in suicide attacks. Because of that history, the word is also used more broadly for a reckless act or mission in which someone seems not to care about their own safety. You might say someone is taking a "kamikaze approach" to a project if they rush in wildly and ignore the risks.
Kamikaze originates from two Japanese words: kami (meaning "spirit" or "god") and kaze (meaning "wind"). In the 13th century, Japan was twice saved from invasion by powerful typhoons, which were seen as divine intervention—hence the term kamikaze, meaning a providential wind. These storms destroyed Mongol fleets attempting to invade the Japanese archipelago in 1274 and 1281.
However, the word's modern association is overwhelmingly linked to World War II. As defeat loomed for Japan in 1944–45, the military developed kamikaze tactics: pilots flying planes loaded with explosives directly into Allied warships. These were not simply bombing runs; the intention was to use the aircraft itself as a guided weapon, sacrificing the pilot in the process. These attacks were driven by a complex mix of nationalistic ideology, religious beliefs, and a desperate attempt to inflict maximum damage on the enemy fleet.
Today, kamikaze is rarely used to describe the historical typhoons. It almost exclusively refers to these WWII pilots or contemporary actions that share their characteristics: reckless abandon, self-sacrifice, and a high probability of personal ruin. You might hear it used in phrases like "a kamikaze mission" (meaning an extremely dangerous undertaking) or "he drove like a kamikaze" (meaning recklessly fast). It is important to use the term with sensitivity, recognizing the tragic human cost behind its historical context and avoiding the trivialization of the lives lost. While it is frequently used metaphorically in English, understanding its origins is crucial for respectful and accurate communication.
Examples
- 1
Wartime pilots
The documentary included interviews with families of kamikaze pilots.
- 2
Military attack
The ship was badly damaged in a kamikaze attack near the end of the war.
- 3
Risky task
Trying to finish the whole report tonight would be a kamikaze mission.
- Phrasea kamikaze mission
a task that is extremely risky or likely to fail
- 4
Reckless person
A kamikaze cyclist shot through the red light and nearly hit a bus.
- Patternkamikaze + person
acting in a wildly reckless way
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- do-or-die
- desperate
- sacrificial
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- kamikaze attack
- kamikaze mission
- kamikaze tactics
Explore
- suicide mission
- recklessness
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- kamikazenoun
Forms
- kamikazespluralnoun