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
Dave Barry
Examples of lighter fluid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Liquid items placed in the ear included shoe glue (added instead of ear drops), lighter fluid, candle wax and hydrogen peroxide.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 5 Nov. 2023
Second, the traditional design (which dates to 1932) relies on old-school lighter fluid, which tends to evaporate over time making for a sometimes-frustrating flick.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023
Filled with lighter fluid, the best of these hand warmers can go for 12 hours—ample time to keep your hands toasty from sunrise to sundown, or through the longest golf matches ever.
—Ben Romans, Field & Stream, 25 Oct. 2023
This is not your typical American cookout with briquettes poured into a Weber and doused in lighter fluid.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2023
According to the indictment, the conspirators used accelerants such as lighter fluid to set racks of clothing and other materials on fire.
—Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2023
The chimney starter is capable of lighting barbecue coals in 15 minutes or less without lighter fluid or any other chemicals.
—Tom Price, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2023
Haight squirted lighter fluid on the man and also tried to set him on fire before deputies arrived and took him into custody, authorities said.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2023
Julia added a single Bic lighter fluid earring, and wore her long brown hair straight and down.
—Seventeen, 12 May 2023
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Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 5 Nov. 2023
Second, the traditional design (which dates to 1932) relies on old-school lighter fluid, which tends to evaporate over time making for a sometimes-frustrating flick.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023
Filled with lighter fluid, the best of these hand warmers can go for 12 hours—ample time to keep your hands toasty from sunrise to sundown, or through the longest golf matches ever.
—Ben Romans, Field & Stream, 25 Oct. 2023
This is not your typical American cookout with briquettes poured into a Weber and doused in lighter fluid.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2023
According to the indictment, the conspirators used accelerants such as lighter fluid to set racks of clothing and other materials on fire.
—Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2023
The chimney starter is capable of lighting barbecue coals in 15 minutes or less without lighter fluid or any other chemicals.
—Tom Price, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2023
Haight squirted lighter fluid on the man and also tried to set him on fire before deputies arrived and took him into custody, authorities said.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2023
Julia added a single Bic lighter fluid earring, and wore her long brown hair straight and down.
—Seventeen, 12 May 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lighter fluid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near lighter fluid
Cite this Entry
“Lighter fluid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighter%20fluid. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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