lighter fluid

noun

1

: the liquid in a lighter (such as a cigarette lighter) that is its fuel

2

: a liquid accelerant used especially to ignite charcoal briquettes for grilling food

The average back-yard chef, wishing to cook hamburgers, tries to ignite the charcoal via the Squirt, Light and Wait Method, wherein you squirt lighter fluid on a pile of briquettes, light the pile, then wait until they have turned a uniform grey.

—Dave Barry

Examples of lighter fluid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the robbery, Johnson doused Harris with lighter fluid, stole cash from the cash register as well as her rings, two packs of cigarettes and a lighter before setting her on fire. —Christine Pelisek, People.com, 21 May 2025

But instead of clocking out like normal, Harris left the store in an ambulance, with second- to fourth-degree burns covering much of her body after a robber poured lighter fluid over her head and set her on fire. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 20 May 2025

The taxpayer noted that these items were typically sold in the same grocery aisle as outdoor barbecue equipment (matches, charcoal, lighter fluid, and so forth). —Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

There’s no fooling with matches, charcoal, or lighter fluid. —Clint Davis, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lighter fluid

• druid