combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbə-stə-bəl 

1

: capable of combustion

combustible materials, such as paper, leaves, and sawdust

combustible gases

2

: easily excited

a combustible temper

The coach had to keep the combustible players under control.

combustibility

kəm-ˌbə-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

combustible noun

combustibly

kəm-ˈbə-stə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• burnable
• combustive
• fiery
• flammable
• ignitable
• ignitible
• inflammable
• touchy

Examples of combustible in a Sentence

The fuel is highly combustible.

don't store oily rags and other combustible materials in a hot attic

Recent Examples on the Web

Stage 1 fire restrictions are active in the Coconino National Forest, which prohibits fires fueled by combustible materials like wood, charcoal, briquettes, and coal outside of a developed site. —Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 3 July 2024

Razor-sharp without ever taking itself too seriously, 30 Rock is a joyous send-up of New York, the changing TV business, and the combustible egos that fill both. —John Ortved, Vogue, 29 June 2024

Though given how combustible those two were on that film, a reunion probably wasn’t in the cards. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 June 2024

In Earth’s youth, there were many sources of intense heat and plenty of sparks—lightning, volcanoes, rockfalls—but hardly any free oxygen or dry and combustible matter. —Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin combustibilis, from Latin combustus (past participle of combūrere "to destroy with fire, combust") + -ibilis -ible

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbəs-tə-bəl 

1

: capable of being burned

2

: catching fire or burning easily

combustibility

-ˌbəs-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

combustible noun

Medical Definition

combustible

adjective

com·​bus·​ti·​ble kəm-ˈbəs-tə-bəl 

: capable of combustion

combustible anesthetics