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

While that shower is known for producing bright, slow-moving fireballs in the night sky, the brightness of the full moon is expected to dim the display of meteors. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025

Roughly 30 minutes after witnessing the fireball, Wingo learned that one of his close friends, Craig Wadsworth, had been on board. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025

The Geminids are known to produce bright, colorful fireballs that streak across the night sky. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 13 Dec. 2025

Every year around this time, bright, yellow fireballs streak across skies around the globe in the popular Geminids meteor shower. —Connor Greene, Time, 11 Dec. 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