Plain English Meaning
The cabin loses its pressure so quickly that the air inside rushes out almost instantly — faster than your lungs can keep up with. It is the most severe and dangerous type of cabin pressure loss.
Full Definition
A sudden loss of cabin pressure in a pressurized aircraft that occurs faster than the lungs can decompress, generally defined as a pressure change taking less than 0.5 seconds. It is typically caused by structural failure, a window or door blowout, or rupture of the pressurized cabin, and can result in lung damage, rapid onset of hypoxia, and the violent expulsion of loose objects from the cabin.
Context Anchor
Seen in pressurized aircraft training, especially in discussions of high-altitude emergencies, oxygen use, and emergency descent procedures.
Derivation
From Latin 'explodere' meaning 'to drive out with force,' and '' meaning ' from pressure.' The word 'explosive' here refers to the and violence of the event, not to a fire or — the air itself escapes with explosive force.