bonfire

noun

bon·​fire ˈbän-ˌfī(-ə)r 

: a large fire built in the open air

Examples of bonfire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There may be fewer seafood cookouts and bonfires, but the weather is lovely and there’s still plenty to do. — Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2026

The ban prohibits most outdoor fires, including those for trash disposal, yard debris, land clearing, bonfires, and campfires not contained in structures such as fire rings. — Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026

Fundamentally, the protest in Delhi amounted to a carnivalesque bonfire of Brand Modi. — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026

The resort features a 2,000-foot private beach for days spent in the sun and evening beach bonfires during the summer. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 18 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bonefire a fire of bones, from bon bone + fire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bonfire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar

Kids Definition

bonfire

noun

bon·​fire ˈbän-ˌfī(ə)r 

: a large outdoor fire