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Synonyms

ignition

American  
[ig-nish-uhn] / ɪgˈnɪʃ ən /

noun

  1. the act or fact of igniting; state of being ignited.

  2. a means or device for igniting.

  3. (in an internal-combustion engine) the process that ignites the fuel in the cylinder.

ignition British  
/ ɪɡˈnɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act or process of initiating combustion

  2. the process of igniting the fuel in an internal-combustion engine

  3. the devices used to ignite the fuel in an internal-combustion engine

"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

  • reignition noun

Etymology

Origin of ignition

1605–15; Medieval Latin ignītiōn- (stem of ignītiō ) a setting on fire. See ignite, -ion

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.

The engines enable faster missile launches as they require little preparation before ignition.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Police are treating the fire as deliberate ignition at this time.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

Recent studies into fire mechanics have generally found that the intense heat from wildfire can quickly dry out these plants, making them susceptible to ignition from embers, flames and radiant heat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

Many nightclubs contain the fuel load of an entire residential condominium, the ignition sources of an industrial site, and the evacuation constraints of a submarine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

She’s back on her porch and disappearing inside the house, and you’re turning the key in the ignition.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

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.