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

Paige helped with finishing touches like adding the mailbox, installing the storm door, and details like providing charcoal, lighter fluid and a set of tools for the new grill on the new deck. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026

Harwood, meanwhile, set up a table and poured lighter fluid on it. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026

Police said Hopson's DNA was found on the lighter fluid bottle and on a ski mask recovered from the car. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 7 May 2026

In the days before the killings, Abugharbieh ordered supplies such as duct tape and lighter fluid from Amazon and searched for ways to dispose of bodies, according to court records obtained by the USA TODAY Network. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lighter fluid

• druid
• superfluid