bonfire

noun

bon·​fire ˈbän-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce bonfire (audio)
: a large fire built in the open air

Examples of bonfire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Each week, host Mark L. Walberg sits down with the men and women separately at a bonfire, where they will be shown out-of-context clips of what their significant other has been up to at their temporary home. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 26 Feb. 2025 Court records showed that, on Oct. 5, 2020, White and two other individuals attacked a 28-year-old man during a bonfire in the woods near Ravenswood Trail in East Lyme. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 Feb. 2025 The fires were a bonfire of bad ideas that had piled up over decades, from suburban sprawl into wildfire zones to the flammable plastics that now fill many people’s homes. Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025 Try a winter wellness walk and warm up by a bonfire to roast marshmallows. Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bonfire

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bonefire a fire of bones, from bon bone + fire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bonfire was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bonfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bonfire. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

bonfire

noun
bon·​fire ˈbän-ˌfī(ə)r How to pronounce bonfire (audio)
: a large outdoor fire

More from Merriam-Webster on bonfire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!