misfire

1 of 2

verb

mis·​fire ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r 

misfired; misfiring; misfires

intransitive verb

1

: to have the explosive or propulsive charge fail to ignite at the proper time

the engine misfired

2

: to fail to fire

the gun misfired

3

: to miss an intended effect or objective

the new ad campaign misfired

misfire

2 of 2

noun

mis·​fire ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r 

ˈmis-ˌfī(-ə)r

1

: a failure (as of a cartridge or firearm) to fire

2

: something that misfires

Synonyms

Verb

• fail
• fall short
• miscarry
• stall
• fall flat
• come to grief

Examples of misfire in a Sentence

Verb

their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Like a group chat where everyone is talking at once and nobody can be heard clearly, neurons start to misfire and overreact. —Siddhesh Sabnis, The Conversation, 23 June 2025

From January through April came films with no clear audience: horror cheapies, Oscar leftovers, prestige misfires. —Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025

Noun

Most of the deaths involved misuse and misfires or malfunctions. —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025

But even the most committed cinephiles should forgive anyone who averts their gaze from Camp and Wilson’s disastrous misfire. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for misfire

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

Kids Definition

misfire

verb

mis·​fire

(ˈ)mis-ˈfī(ə)r

1

: to have the explosive or driving charge fail to ignite at the proper time

the engine misfired

2

: to fail to fire

the gun misfired

3

: to miss an intended effect

the plan misfired

misfire noun