Illustration of firefly
firefly
noun
fire·fly
ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌflī 
: any of various winged nocturnal beetles (especially family Lampyridae) that produce a bright soft intermittent light by oxidation of luciferin especially for courtship purposes
Examples of firefly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And now, a top that is nothing more than a giant sculptural firefly.
—
Meg Walters, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026
There’s an underground river in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and synchronous fireflies to see in the Smokies.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Yet there’s a warmth to every song that’s watching fireflies twinkle against a summer sunset.
—David Glickman, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Standing in the backyard and watching fireflies in the summertime is very relaxing.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firefly
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Meg Walters, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026
There’s an underground river in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and synchronous fireflies to see in the Smokies.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Yet there’s a warmth to every song that’s watching fireflies twinkle against a summer sunset.
—David Glickman, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Standing in the backyard and watching fireflies in the summertime is very relaxing.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firefly
Cite this Entry
“Firefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firefly. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
firefly
noun
fire·fly
ˈfī(ə)r-ˌflī
: any of numerous night-flying beetles that produce a bright soft flashing light for courtship purposes
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