combustion

noun

com·​bus·​tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən 

1

: an act or instance of burning

Smoke is produced during combustion.

2

: a usually rapid chemical process (such as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light

The carburetor mixes fuel with air for combustion.

also : a slower oxidation (as in the body)

3

: violent agitation : tumult

… periods of great social combustion alternating with quiescence …

—Kurt Andersen

combustive

kəm-ˈbə-stiv 

adjective

Examples of combustion in a Sentence

Combustion may occur at high temperatures.

This ratio of air to fuel results in better combustion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nicotine pouches deliver nicotine without smoke, without combustion, and without inhalation. —Timothy Vermillion, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026

Worldwide, as Birol suggests, electricity is colonizing sectors earlier dominated by combustion. —Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Why drivers will need to be smarter Moving to a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and battery power in 2026 will significantly affect how new cars are driven and how everyone races. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026

On the internal combustion side, the GranTurismo’s Modena and Trofeo trim levels offer the brand’s the same twin-turbo V-6 found in the MC20 supercar, which is connected to an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English combustioun "burning, calcination," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French combustion, borrowed from Late Latin combustiōn-, combustiō "burning up (of the dead or by the fires in hell)," from Latin combus-, variant stem of combūrere "to destroy with fire, reduce to ashes" + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at combust

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing combustion

• combustion chamber
• combustion engine
• external combustion engine
• internal combustion engine
• pre-combustion
• spontaneous combustion

Rhymes for combustion

• fustian

Kids Definition

combustion

noun

com·​bus·​tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən 

1

: an act or instance of burning

2

: a chemical process in which substances combine with oxygen

Medical Definition

combustion

noun

com·​bus·​tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən 

: a usually very rapid chemical process (as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light

also : a slower oxidation (as in the body)