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

Forty stargazers in the Carolinas and four other states reported seeing a fireball in the early morning sky Thursday, according to the American Meteorological Society. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2026

In one video, several loud booms can be heard as a fireball appears behind buildings in the direction of the city’s port. — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026

Ground teams were performing an important prelaunch test known as a hot fire in preparation for what would have been New Glenn's fourth flight when the explosion occurred May 28, resulting in a fireball widely seen around Florida. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Sadly, the light of the full moon will hide all but the brightest shooting stars around the peak, but there's always a chance that a dramatic fireball could appear to outshine even Venus in the night sky. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 July 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