firecracker

American  

[fahyuhr-krak-er] / ˈfaɪərˌkræk ər /

noun

firecrackers plural

1. a paper or cardboard cylinder filled with an explosive and having a fuse, for discharging to make a noise, as during a celebration.

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firecracker British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌkrækə /

noun

1. a small cardboard container filled with explosive powder and lit by a fuse

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adjective

1. impressively energetic

   a firecracker start to the race

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• firecrackers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of firecracker

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; fire + cracker

Example Sentences

Firecracker factory accidents are common in India because highly volatile chemicals are handled in cramped, low-cost setups where even a small spark can trigger explosions.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Naomi Goodman, a Seattle-based landscape designer who owns Firecracker Design Studio, creates planet-friendly gardens that collaborate with climate, place and local wildlife — including people.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 13, 2024

After the pandemic, the town founded the Firecracker Festival, for Independence Day.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2023

Firecracker, another one of the Cornell group’s creations, “was one of many names suggested by testers and it matched the variety for having an explosion of flavor,” Dr. Brown said.

From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2022

Let the bugles sound the charge, and let our literature be cleared of Laura Matildas and Martin Firecracker Splutters forever!

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 1, July, 1862 by Various