noun
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a type of firework that throws out showers of sparks
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informal a sparkling gem
Etymology
Origin of sparkler
Explanation
A sparkler is a firework that glows and sparks as you hold in you hand. A sparkler burns very slowly, giving you time to wave it around and make patterns in the dark before its flame goes out. Most sparklers are thin pieces of flexible metal that are partly coated with chemicals that burn and sparkle. Though sparklers are often thought of as a fireworks for kids, they burn at a very high temperature and can cause serious burns if they're not used carefully. Sparklers are particularly beautiful when they're lit outside in the dark. While the sparkler's invention is a bit of a mystery, the word sparkler came into use around 1879, from the verb sparkle.
Vocabulary lists containing sparkler
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.
"We always add a sparkler candle when we serve a bottle of wine in the dining room," said his wife and co-owner, Jessica, who was released after Friday's hearing.
From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026
Aged 3-4 years on the lees, this opulent sparkler from a venerable Champagne house comes in an elegant flagon-shaped bottle.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025
If you have ever written your name in the air with a sparkler on bonfire night then you have experimented with light painting.
From BBC • Nov. 2, 2024
But that only last a short while, as she sparked engagement rumors when she was spotted wearing the sparkler in April.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2024
At the top of the highest spire, the last few flickers of a safety sparkler were sputtering out.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
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.
