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extinguisher

American  
[ik-sting-gwi-sher] / ɪkˈstɪŋ gwɪ ʃər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that extinguishes.

  2. fire extinguisher.

  3. an instrument consisting of a cone-shaped cup attached to a handle or the end of a pole, for extinguishing a candle by momentarily closing off the burning wick from the air.

Etymology

Origin of extinguisher

First recorded in 1550–60; extinguish + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Among their finds is a fire extinguisher dating from 1942, newspapers from the week after D-Day, and a tin of "whole chicken in jelly" - fortunately empty.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Another sprayed a fire extinguisher, sending up a white cloud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Standing repo facility usage: The SRF is supposed to be a backstop nobody needs, like the fire extinguisher in your kitchen.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 5, 2025

One video shows a man spraying a fire extinguisher at the fire before running away.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2025

“Do you have a plan other than holding a fire extinguisher and hoping for the best?”

From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.