firefly

noun

fire·​fly ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌflī How to pronounce firefly (audio)
: any of various winged nocturnal beetles (especially family Lampyridae) that produce a bright soft intermittent light by oxidation of luciferin especially for courtship purposes

Illustration of firefly

Illustration of firefly

Examples of firefly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Installations range from California poppies and a field of fireflies to a laser garden. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025 Alternatively, consider timing your trip for the firefly season, which begins in mid-March and runs for about a month. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025 The South is filled with gorgeous locations like autumn in the Smoky Mountains, leafy drives in the Shenandoahs, the Garden District in New Orleans, ogling the stars in the Texas llano, sunrise in the Florida Keys, or watching the fireflies in Congaree National Park. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025 Someday, my kid will say that about me and fireflies. Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firefly

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firefly was in 1655

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Firefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firefly. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

firefly

noun
fire·​fly ˈfī(ə)r-ˌflī How to pronounce firefly (audio)
: any of numerous night-flying beetles that produce a bright soft flashing light for courtship purposes

More from Merriam-Webster on firefly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!