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 BarryExamples of lighter fluid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
The caller told dispatchers that, during a FaceTime call, the man poured lighter fluid throughout the residence, authorities said.
—Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
The employee then reported that the man allegedly sprayed the lighter fluid onto the business exterior, and then attempted to light it on fire.
—Vanessa Carlson Bender, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lighter fluid
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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
The caller told dispatchers that, during a FaceTime call, the man poured lighter fluid throughout the residence, authorities said.
—Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
The employee then reported that the man allegedly sprayed the lighter fluid onto the business exterior, and then attempted to light it on fire.
—Vanessa Carlson Bender, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lighter fluid
Cite this Entry
“Lighter fluid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighter%20fluid. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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