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Synonyms

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.


firecracker British  
/ ˈfaɪəˌkrækə /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. impressively energetic

    a firecracker start to the race

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of firecracker

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

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.

See Examples For:

According to the researchers, these chemical changes could interfere with microbial communities and aquatic ecosystems, particularly if large amounts of firecracker litter are repeatedly washed into rivers and lakes after festivals or celebrations.

From Science Daily Jul. 4, 2026

On Sunday, a blast at a firecracker factory in neighbouring Tamil Nadu state left at least 25 dead.

From BBC Apr. 22, 2026

A rare moment of high drama flares when a pregnant woman, Agata, played with firecracker fierceness by Anna Chlumsky, barrels down the basement stairs to accost Renia.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 6, 2025

And for the next three years he was friends with that firecracker, until they started dating around Christmas of their senior year.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 25, 2024

Then, because business was tapering off, he had time to give me a demonstration of how to make the shine rag pop like a firecracker.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Spent firecrackers scatter residue that contains partially burned fuel, metal salts, additives, and pieces of charred packaging.

From Science Daily Jul. 4, 2026

Wearing helmets and ponchos, the protesters, many of whom waved rainbow-colored Indigenous flags, marched toward the city center to the din of firecrackers.

From Barron's May 22, 2026

Some firecrackers were set off near the sidewalk but away from the building entrance, he said.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 13, 2026

As Mesidor and Bain have thudded their way through the first two rounds of the playoff, Miami’s pass rush has reduced some of college football’s most explosive offenses to little more than firecrackers.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 7, 2026

Joe trotted inside, returning to the yard a few seconds later toting a package of Chinese firecrackers.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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