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

Go crabbing, clamming, hiking, or mushroom foraging with a guide, head out for a fat-tire bike ride, or enjoy a beach bonfire, already set up for you, for the coziest way to end a day on the coast. —Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025

Get your patio ready for football watch parties, cozy bonfires, and cool morning coffee dates with furniture from Better Homes & Gardens' new Ezra Patio Collection at Walmart. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025

Shot at the real-life Flintham Hall manor house, cinematographer Sean Bobbitt’s camera glides around lush setpieces ranging from a shadowy hedge maze to a swimming lake and an unwieldy bonfire. —Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025

The suspect accused in the Alabama bonfire shooting that left three injured and a cheerleader dead now faces a murder charge. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025

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