firebrand

noun

fire·​brand ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbrand How to pronounce firebrand (audio)
1
: a piece of burning wood
2
: one that creates unrest or strife (as in aggressively promoting a cause) : agitator

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The original firebrands were incendiary indeed; they were pieces of wood set burning at the fire, perhaps for use as a light or a weapon. English speakers started brandishing those literal firebrands as long ago as the 13th century. (Robinson Crusoe held one high as he rushed into a cave on his deserted island and saw by the light of the firebrand . . . lying on the ground a monstrous, frightful old he-goat.) But the burning embers of the wooden firebrand quickly sparked figurative uses for the term, too. By the early 14th century, firebrand was also being used for one doomed to burn in hell, and by 1382, English writers were using it for anyone who kindled mischief or inflamed passions.

Examples of firebrand in a Sentence

a firebrand who urged crowds to riot during the blackouts
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.
The two men will go into the second round of voting on June 1, hoping to draw voters from other minor candidates, among them a significant bloc which voted for far-right firebrand Slawomir Mentzen, who came third with 14.8%. David Brennan, ABC News, 21 May 2025 What To Know According to the survey, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tops the list as the face of the Democratic Party, with 26 percent choosing the progressive firebrand. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 At their national convention, Democrats adopted the pro-silver position and nominated a populist firebrand for president, William Jennings Bryan. Adam M. Silver, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2025 Daniel Noboa, the tough-on-crime firebrand president of Ecuador, was re-elected in Sunday's runoff. Kyle Schmidbauer, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firebrand

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of firebrand was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Firebrand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firebrand. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

firebrand

noun
fire·​brand -ˌbrand How to pronounce firebrand (audio)
1
: a piece of burning wood
2

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