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

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

The torch also broke and the lighter fluid was splattered all over the living room. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025

First off, there's an Automatic Fire Starter that can light your coals on fire with just the push of a button – no lighter fluid required. —New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lighter fluid

• druid