fireball

noun

fire·​ball ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbȯl 

1

: a ball of fire

also : something resembling such a ball

… the primordial fireball associated with the beginning of the universe.

—Scientific American

2

: a brilliant meteor that may trail bright sparks

3

: the highly luminous cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion

4

: a highly energetic person

Synonyms of fireball

• pistol
• dynamo

Examples of fireball in a Sentence

The house erupted into a fireball.

what this club needs is a fireball who will bring some sorely needed energy and enthusiasm

Recent Examples on the Web

Footage shared by the company showed massive flames and fireballs erupting from the facility. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

But after a fireball erupted at last year’s Idaho’s Potato Drop, injuring a child and shattering windows, the event’s CEO, Dylan Cline, cheered the explosion and asserted the event wouldn’t be back to the downtown site near the Idaho Capitol. — Idaho Statesman, 12 Aug. 2026

This shower is also known for featuring fireballs, meteors that are exceptionally bright and are visible for longer than other meteors. — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

The meteor shower's peak Wednesday night into Thursday morning coincides with a total solar eclipse across Spain, Iceland and Greenland and a six-planet parade — though the best time to view the fireballs will come after totality. — Cutter Martin, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fireball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• gasohol
• gossypol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

fireball

noun

fire·​ball -ˌbȯl 

1

: a ball of fire

2

: a very bright meteor

3

: the glowing cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion