Standard Lemma guide

firestarter

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

noun

Meaning 1

Someone who starts a fire or fires.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

Near-synonyms: arsonist, firebug, fireraiser, pyromaniac, torch

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: arsonist, firebug, fireraiser, pyromaniac, torch

Antonyms: firefighter

Broader terms: person

noun

Meaning 2

A tool used to start a fire; especially, a ferrocerium-and-steel set designed for camping, bushcraft, and so on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tool

History

Etymology

From fire + starter.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

Catalan: incendiari — person who starts fires
Catalan: incendiària — person who starts fires
German: Anzünder — person who starts fires
German: Brandstifter (arsonist) — person who starts fires
German: Zündler (arsonist) — person who starts fires
Latin: incendiārius — person who starts fires
Polish: podpalacz — person who starts fires
Polish: podpalaczka — person who starts fires
Spanish: incendiario — person who starts fires
German: Anzünder — tool used to start a fire
German: Grillanzünder — tool used to start a fire
Middle English: fyr-brand — tool used to start a fire
Polish: podpałka — tool used to start a fire
Spanish: encendedor — tool used to start a fire

Word forms

Inflections and variants

firestarters — plural
fire starter — alternative
fire-starter — alternative

Word family

Derived and related words

Derived: none provided

Related: firestarting, firestriker, flint, striker

Semantic map

Other relationships

Hypernyms: person, tool

Coordinate Terms: lighter, cigarette lighter, match, incendiary, fire drill, firestick, bow drill, pump drill

Sources

Where this information comes from

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Real reading context

Examples

Meaning relationships

Meaning relationships

firestarter in complete knowledge articles