firebrand

noun

fire·​brand ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbrand How to pronounce firebrand (audio)
1
: a piece of burning wood
2
: one that creates unrest or strife (as in aggressively promoting a cause) : agitator

Did you know?

The original firebrands were incendiary indeed; they were pieces of wood set burning at the fire, perhaps for use as a light or a weapon. English speakers started brandishing those literal firebrands as long ago as the 13th century. (Robinson Crusoe held one high as he rushed into a cave on his deserted island and saw by the light of the firebrand . . . lying on the ground a monstrous, frightful old he-goat.) But the burning embers of the wooden firebrand quickly sparked figurative uses for the term, too. By the early 14th century, firebrand was also being used for one doomed to burn in hell, and by 1382, English writers were using it for anyone who kindled mischief or inflamed passions.

Examples of firebrand in a Sentence

a firebrand who urged crowds to riot during the blackouts
Recent Examples on the Web North Carolina: Two sharply contrasting candidates for governor emerged from the primaries: Josh Stein, a mild-mannered Democrat and the state’s attorney general, and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a firebrand Republican who has been a stalwart defender of Trump. Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Really a firebrand and visionary artist who could see the future and work diligently to try to make that future real. Garret K. Woodward, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has shown to be a political firebrand. Christopher Tremoglie, Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2024 Pink Friday 2, the fifth album from firebrand MC Nicki Minaj, attempts to balance the expectations attached to naming itself after its groundbreaking 2010 predecessor with Minaj’s spirit of constant reinvention and confrontational persona. Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2023 Israel's finance minister, far-right firebrand Bezalel Smotrich, announced the new settlement plans late Thursday after three Palestinian gunmen opened fire on cars near the Maale Adumim settlement, killing one Israeli and wounding five. Julia Frankel The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 24 Feb. 2024 The eight-episode drama kicks off as adolescent firebrand Erika (Mar Isern) unwittingly provokes a wave of introspection after an uncut video of her Rubenesque body goes viral. Holly Jones, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 After German reunification, the Eisler group, which took its name from the firebrand of German leftist music, remained outsiders, their ideals now clashing with democratic capitalism. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 Imperiale, a political firebrand who also served as a Newark city councilman, was in the national spotlight in the 1960s as a spokesman for cracking down on crime. Matthew Brown, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'firebrand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of firebrand was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Firebrand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firebrand. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

firebrand

noun
fire·​brand -ˌbrand How to pronounce firebrand (audio)
1
: a piece of burning wood
2

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