firecracker

American  

[fahyuhr-krak-er] / ˈfaɪərˌkræk ər /

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of firecracker

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

Example Sentences

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

"She's such a firecracker in the series and then I actually found out she was also a very solitary and silent woman who painted lots of watercolours," Galligan explains.

From BBC • Sep. 24, 2025

"When you put all of that together, you have basically an M80 firecracker," said Piquero, who is also former director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

From Salon • Aug. 13, 2024

A breath taken before the end of a sentence would turn the final word into a firecracker.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2024

“Your mom is a real firecracker, by the way. I overheard her talking to my mom last night. She’s very...colorful when she’s mad.”

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson