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

For strict airport noise limits at takeoff and landing, engines must avoid afterburners, using smart nozzles and shielding instead. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 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

The Soviet Union's Tu-144 design, meanwhile, depended heavily on loud afterburners for the aircraft to reach Mach 1 (767 mph, or 1,235 km/h) — or faster than the speed of sound. —Lisa D. Sparks, Space.com, 9 Aug. 2025

The most dramatic flourish to the Evija’s purposeful styling, enormous venturis exit between the active rear wing and resemble the afterburners on a fighter jet. —Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 6 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