bonfire
Americannoun
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a large fire built in the open air, for warmth, entertainment, or celebration, to burn leaves, garbage, etc., or as a signal.
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any fire built in the open.
noun
Etymology
Origin of bonfire
1375–1425; late Middle English bone fire, i.e., a fire with bones for fuel
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.
With all that said, a bonfire composed of burning laptops is a good summation of 2026’s current flavor of anxiety.
From Slate • Feb. 8, 2026
The sky pulsed red with the glow of a distant Guy Fawkes Night bonfire, and a cold, wet fog sat heavily on the town of Inverness.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
Masli outlined her plan for a future bonfire.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2025
Dubbed “Stars, Stripes and Country Nights,” it will include hayrides, a bonfire and a country-music band, said Susan Mantell, the party chairwoman.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025
The light emanates from a large bonfire in the center of the courtyard.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
