Definition of ignis fatuus
1
: a light that sometimes appears in the night over marshy ground and is often attributable to the combustion of gas from decomposed organic matter
2
: a deceptive goal or hope
Test Your Vocabulary
Great Words for Scrabble
-
- Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share ignis fatuus
Time Traveler for ignis fatuus
The first known use of ignis fatuus was in 1563
See more words from the same year