ignition

noun

ig·​ni·​tion ig-ˈni-shən 

1

a

: the device that is used to ignite the fuel mixture in a gasoline engine

put the key in the ignition

b

: the process or means (such as an electric spark) of igniting a fuel mixture

2

: the act or action of igniting: such as

a

: the starting of a fire

b

: the heating of a plasma to a temperature high enough to sustain nuclear fusion

Examples of ignition in a Sentence

There's a problem with the car's ignition.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s natural ignitions like from lightning, but historically there was also quite a bit of fire that was started through cultural burning practices by the Ojibwe. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 29 July 2026

The French defense procurement agency, Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), announced that AndroMach completed a campaign of 21 engine ignitions at a government test facility, with the engine remaining reusable after the trials. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

The company plans to launch its massive Starship rocket on Thursday after halting the mission last week due to an engine ignition failure. — Lora Kolodny,samantha Subin, CNBC, 21 July 2026

SpaceX at first tried to launch the broadband internet relay units on a Falcon 9 rocket on Monday morning (July 20), but an unexpected engine cutoff at the point of ignition scrubbed the day's attempt. — Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for ignition

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

ignition

noun

ig·​ni·​tion ig-ˈnish-ən 

1

: the act of igniting

2

: the process or means (as an electric spark) of igniting a fuel mixture

also : an electrical device for operating an ignition system (as in an automobile)

put the key in the ignition