flashover
noun
flash·over
ˈflash-ˌō-vər 
1
: an abnormal electrical discharge (as through the air to the ground from a high potential source or between two conducting portions of a structure)
2
: the sudden spread of flame over an area when it becomes heated to the flash point
Examples of flashover in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When a fire begins in a room without ventilation, the heat radiates downward, eventually engulfing all combustible items in its path, causing a flashover, per NFPA.
—
Melina Khan, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
In flashover conditions, when a fire becomes fully involved, and everything in a space ignites, a standard suit can protect a wearer for roughly 18 seconds before second-degree burns occur through the protective layers.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
The flames triggered a violent ignition of combustible gases known as a flashover, causing the flames to spread suddenly and violently, Pilloud said.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Medical staff said Friday that some of those in hospital appear to have injuries consistent with a flashover.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026
Officials described how the blaze likely triggered the release of combustible gases that ignited violently and caused what English-speaking firefighters call a flashover or backdraft.
—Jamey Keaten, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Angry smoke typically occurs before a flashover–a very rapid and often violent phase of fire development.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
In the natural-material room, flashover took longer than 30 minutes.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
The crew became trapped in a canyon during a flashover, their situation further complicated by problems with radio communications that caused challenges in determining the crew's exact location.
—Lacey Latch, The Arizona Republic, 27 June 2023
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Melina Khan, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
In flashover conditions, when a fire becomes fully involved, and everything in a space ignites, a standard suit can protect a wearer for roughly 18 seconds before second-degree burns occur through the protective layers.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
The flames triggered a violent ignition of combustible gases known as a flashover, causing the flames to spread suddenly and violently, Pilloud said.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Medical staff said Friday that some of those in hospital appear to have injuries consistent with a flashover.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026
Officials described how the blaze likely triggered the release of combustible gases that ignited violently and caused what English-speaking firefighters call a flashover or backdraft.
—Jamey Keaten, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Angry smoke typically occurs before a flashover–a very rapid and often violent phase of fire development.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
In the natural-material room, flashover took longer than 30 minutes.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
The crew became trapped in a canyon during a flashover, their situation further complicated by problems with radio communications that caused challenges in determining the crew's exact location.
—Lacey Latch, The Arizona Republic, 27 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Flashover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flashover. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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