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

The California code also includes rules for vegetation management and landscaping to reduce combustible matter on a property. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2025

One is the direct flame contact, which means that the fire is moving through some kind of combustible material. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 20 Jan. 2025

Funding this work, finding the labor to do it, and exploring financially sustainable and profitable ways to remove combustible materials is an ongoing challenge. —Alan Salazar, The Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2025

Logging can also leave behind more combustible species like cheatgrass, an opportunistic invasive that thrives in disturbed areas and is near-impossible to eradicate. —Elizabeth Miller, Outside Online, 12 Jan. 2025

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