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Definition of firefly

firefly

/ˈfaɪɚˌflaɪ/
fire · fly
Plural:fireflies
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firefly Lexical Profile

firefly Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A nocturnal winged beetle of the family Lampyridae, characterized by a bioluminescent organ in the lower abdomen that produces flashes of light to attract mates or prey.

Example

"On warm summer nights, the children loved to run through the meadow and catch fireflies in glass jars."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for firefly

• Nearby Words

firefighter
firefighting
firefinch
firefly
fireguard
firehall
firehose

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 17th century as a compound of 'fire' and 'fly', referring to the insect's ability to produce bioluminescent light.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Firefly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/firefly
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