fireball

noun

fire·​ball ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbȯl 

1

: a ball of fire

also : something resembling such a ball

… the primordial fireball associated with the beginning of the universe.

—Scientific American

2

: a brilliant meteor that may trail bright sparks

3

: the highly luminous cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion

4

: a highly energetic person

Synonyms of fireball

• pistol
• dynamo

Examples of fireball in a Sentence

The house erupted into a fireball.

what this club needs is a fireball who will bring some sorely needed energy and enthusiasm

Recent Examples on the Web

On the bright side, the Eta Aquarid's are known to produce the occasional fireball, which could easily pierce the veil of moonlight cast by the lunar disk. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 May 2026

Six Carolinians, including a woman in Charlotte, reported a fireball in the nighttime sky Thursday, according to the American Meteorological Society. —Joe Marusak may 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 May 2026

The plane burst into a fireball within a split second. —James Glanz, New York Times, 1 May 2026

The waning gibbous moon will be bright around the peak, so conditions will be tough for anything but the brightest meteors and occasional fireballs. —Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fireball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• gasohol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

fireball

noun

fire·​ball -ˌbȯl 

1

: a ball of fire

2

: a very bright meteor

3

: the glowing cloud of vapor and dust created by a nuclear explosion