What does firebomb mean?
A firebomb is a weapon built to ignite fires rather than destroy through explosion alone. Typically improvised, it may be as simple as a glass bottle filled with gasoline and fitted with a lit rag—the well-known Molotov cocktail—or as sophisticated as military incendiary bombs dropped from aircraft. The word also functions as a verb: to firebomb a building or vehicle is to attack it with such devices, as in 'the office was firebomed during the protests.' The term entered widespread use during the Second World War, when aerial incendiary bombing devastated cities across Europe and Japan. Today it appears most often in journalism covering riots, arson attacks, and political violence. Because it describes deliberate, indiscriminate violence, the word carries heavy connotations of danger and lawlessness, and its derivatives—firebombed, firebombing—are staples of news headlines worldwide.
An incendiary bomb; an explosive device designed to start fires on impact.
"A firebomb smashed against the shuttered window and burst into flames."
Often used interchangeably with 'Molotov cocktail' for improvised devices and 'incendiary bomb' for military munitions.
To attack a person, building, or vehicle using incendiary bombs.
"Activists firebombed the regional headquarters late on Friday night."
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple incendiary devices.
"Police found several unexploded firebombs hidden in the alleyway."
The humble Molotov cocktail—named as a mocking toast to Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov—is history's most famous firebomb, and it required nothing more than a bottle, gasoline, and a rag.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of firebomb
Firebomb is a straightforward English compound of 'fire' and 'bomb,' formed when aerial incendiary weapons became prominent around the time of the Second World War. The element 'bomb' derives ultimately from the Greek 'bombos,' an onomatopoeic word imitating a deep booming sound, which passed into Latin as 'bombus' before entering English via French. Cognates sharing this buzzing, booming root include 'bombast' (originally cotton padding, later inflated language) and the military terms 'bombard' and 'bombshell.'
Related word forms
How firebomb is actually used
The verb is regular (firebomb, firebombed, firebombing in both British and US spelling). The word carries strongly violent connotations and appears mostly in news reporting and discussions of riots, terrorism, and war. In British English, 'petrol bomb' is a common synonym.
Easily confused with firebomb
A firebrand is a burning piece of wood or, figuratively, a passionate troublemaker, whereas a firebomb is an explosive incendiary weapon.