misfire

American  

[mis-fiuhr, mis-fahy^uhr] / mɪsˈfɪər, ˈmɪsˌfaɪər /

verb (used without object)

misfired, misfiring

1. (of a rifle or gun or of a bullet or shell) to fail to fire or explode.

2. (of an internal-combustion engine) to fail to ignite properly or when expected.

3. to fail to achieve the desired result, effect, etc..

   His criticisms completely misfired.

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noun

1. an act or instance of misfiring.

misfire British  

/ ˌmɪsˈfaɪə /

verb

1. (of a firearm or its projectile) to fail to fire, explode, or ignite as or when expected

2. (of a motor engine or vehicle, etc) to fail to fire at the appropriate time, often causing a backfire

3. to fail to operate or occur as intended

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noun

1. the act or an instance of misfiring

Etymology

Origin of misfire

First recorded in 1745–55; mis- ¹ + fire

Example Sentences

These studies weren’t necessarily wrong, but I suspect they were snapshots in time that might have lured some into concluding the entire effort was destined to misfire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

It’s a game of mistakes, Guerra tells his students — you’re waiting on your opponent to misfire a ball in a way that allows you to make a shot they can’t return.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025

"Even a cinematic maestro occasionally musters up a misfire," the Razzies said, in a press release announcing Coppola's win.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2025

But the real crime of “Megalopolis” is Coppola flushing his money, as well as a talented cast down the toilet on such a head-scratching misfire.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2024

Anyone who knows anything about firearms will tell you that a 9mm handgun cannot misfire in the way that gun did.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

Related Words

• backfire
• fall flat
• fizzle
• flop