afterburner

noun

af·​ter·​burn·​er ˈaf-tər-ˌbər-nər 

1

: a device incorporated into the tailpipe of a turbojet engine for injecting fuel into the hot exhaust gases and burning it to provide extra thrust

2

: a device for burning or catalytically destroying unburned or partially burned carbon compounds in exhaust (as from an automobile)

Examples of afterburner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The sensation behind the wheel is a head-spinning blast of boost akin to igniting a jet afterburner. —Robb Report Contributors, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2025

The effort aims to deliver a fighter-class engine producing 16,000 pounds of military thrust and 24,000 pounds with afterburners, exceeding earlier performance targets outlined by Seoul. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025

McDavid struck again with 6:21 remaining, turning on the afterburners to skate wide of Marchenko off the rush to make it 4-3. —Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025

Last week at the St. Jude Championship Rickie Fowler turned on the afterburners to go from 64th to inside the 50 on the strength of a T6 finish. —Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

afterburning "burning of combustible gases after they have left the engine" (from after- + burning, gerund of burn entry 1) + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for afterburner

• burner
• earner
• learner
• sterner

Kids Definition

afterburner

noun

af·​ter·​burn·​er -ˌbər-nər 

: a burner attached to the tail pipe of a turbojet engine for forcing fuel into the hot exhaust gases and burning it to provide extra forward push