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
Installations range from California poppies and a field of fireflies to a laser garden.
—
Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025
Someday, my kid will say that about me and fireflies.
—Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
By becoming the light in a darkened world, everyone becomes a firefly that helps to illuminate the way back home to each other.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
His neuroses flitter around him like fireflies.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firefly
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Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025
Someday, my kid will say that about me and fireflies.
—Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
By becoming the light in a darkened world, everyone becomes a firefly that helps to illuminate the way back home to each other.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
His neuroses flitter around him like fireflies.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firefly
Cite this Entry
“Firefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firefly. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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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