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

Foster is the author, most recently, of “City of the Future,” winner of a 2019 Firecracker Award for Poetry.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2023

They’re constructed from recycled stainless steel in sizes with catchy names: Big Bertha at 40 ounces, Grace at 27 ounces and the Firecracker at 18 ounces.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 9, 2021

Firecracker noises erupted at the back of the crowd.

From New York Times • Sep. 8, 2021

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