bonfire

noun

bon·​fire ˈbän-ˌfī(-ə)r 

: a large fire built in the open air

Examples of bonfire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Candle Salt & Stone’s best-selling santal and vetiver scent brings the aroma of a crackling bonfire, minus the excessive smoke inhalation. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026

Lord Raghunath, a regional form of Rama, presides over the weeklong festival, which ends with a bonfire symbolizing the burning of Lanka by Rama’s aide Hanuman. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026

What Lanie Gardner Talks About On This Episode Growing up in tiny Burnsville, North Carolina, where bonfires, football, music, and hanging out in the McDonald’s parking lot were all part of small-town life. — Sid Evans, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026

About 150 competitors from Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas, South Carolina and more are expected to converge at the annual rodeo, which began as a bonfire among fellow equestrians and farmers. — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bonfire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar

Kids Definition

bonfire

noun

bon·​fire ˈbän-ˌfī(ə)r 

: a large outdoor fire