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

So did barbecue lighter fluid, dry cleaners, paints, deodorants, breweries, and the ethanol in the aromas from commercial bakeries. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026

The affidavit includes surveillance stills from a Walmart in Meridian earlier that evening that investigators say show George purchasing two red gasoline cans and lighter fluid at a self-checkout register. —Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026

Fennell’s answer was lighter fluid to English majors’ fire, one that has raged online ever since Elordi was announced to play Emily Brontë’s Byronic hero in 2024. —Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026

When these Seahawks needed pregame fuel, Reed was a 315-pound can of lighter fluid. —Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lighter fluid

• druid