fireball

noun

fire·​ball ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbȯl 

1

: a ball of fire

also : something resembling such a ball

… the primordial fireball associated with the beginning of the universe.

—Scientific American

2

: a brilliant meteor that may trail bright sparks

3

: the highly luminous cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion

4

: a highly energetic person

Synonyms of fireball

• pistol
• dynamo

Examples of fireball in a Sentence

The house erupted into a fireball.

what this club needs is a fireball who will bring some sorely needed energy and enthusiasm

Recent Examples on the Web

Eyewitnesses have shared numerous photographs on social media of the fireball, which initially sprang into view about 50 miles above the North Carolina town of Robbinsville. — News Editor, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

Southern Californian stargazers should get ready for a month packed with astronomical events, starting with fireballs and ending with a supermoon. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

The Taurids are known for spawning brilliant fireball meteors, which can flare brighter than Venus as pebble-sized pieces of debris enter and burn up in the atmosphere. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026

While most bits of ice and rock that burn up are the size of dust grains or pebbles, fireballs arise from debris ranging from the size of a marble to that of a small boulder. — Dharma Niles, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fireball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• gasohol
• gossypol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

fireball

noun

fire·​ball -ˌbȯl 

1

: a ball of fire

2

: a very bright meteor

3

: the glowing cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion