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

• 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

The fuel and battery explosion caused the car to turn into a fireball. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025

Weaver looked to his left and saw a fireball coming at him. —Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

People saw a rocket launch and not a fireball, according to the AMS. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2025

The shower produces about five to six meteors per hour at 41 miles per second, leaving behind glowing debris trains and fireballs, NASA said. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fireball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• gasohol
• 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