combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbə-stə-bəl 

1

: capable of combustion

combustible materials, such as paper, leaves, and sawdust

combustible gases

2

: easily excited

a combustible temper

The coach had to keep the combustible players under control.

combustibility

kəm-ˌbə-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

combustible noun

combustibly

kəm-ˈbə-stə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of combustible

• explosive
• combustive
• flammable
• inflammable
• ignitable
• fiery

Examples of combustible in a Sentence

The fuel is highly combustible.

don't store oily rags and other combustible materials in a hot attic

Recent Examples on the Web

Kelly Charles, the city’s chief building official, said city rules require water supply as soon as combustible materials are on site. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025

Road workers had left the immediate area, but no official evacuation orders had been issued, despite the possibility that a dangerous amount of highly combustible gas remained trapped in nearby homes. —Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 21 Dec. 2025

Politics in many countries has become more polarized and combustible. —Sir David King, Time, 15 Dec. 2025

The propellants are loaded into combustible cartridge case modules, which are then combined into complete modular charge systems. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin combustibilis, from Latin combustus (past participle of combūrere "to destroy with fire, combust") + -ibilis -ible

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for combustible

• adjustable
• incombustible
• noncombustible

Kids Definition

combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbəs-tə-bəl 

1

: capable of being burned

2

: catching fire or burning easily

combustibility

-ˌbəs-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

combustible noun

Medical Definition

combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbəs-tə-bəl 

: capable of combustion

combustible anesthetics