¹incendiary

noun in·cen·di·ary \in-ˈsen-dē-ˌer-ē; -ˈsen-də-rē, -dyə-\

plural in·cen·di·ar·ies

Definition of INCENDIARY

a : a person who commits arson : arsonist

b : a substance or weapon (as a bomb) used to start fires

: a person who excites factions, quarrels, or sedition : agitator

See incendiary defined for kids

He was convinced that the arsonist was not at all what the town imagined: not brazen, but callow; not an expert incendiary noiselessly plying deer paths, but someone who was driving right up to his targets and fumbling with matches … —Barry Werth, New England Monthly, February 1989
White phosphorus, an incendiary, is normally packed in thin-walled casings; the casing is effective for dispersing chemical agents as well. —Stephen Budiansky, Nature, 5–11 Apr. 1984
The British had also made jellied gasoline with rubber, and it was generally recognized to be an excellent incendiary because of its easy ignition, high heat of combustion, and controlled burning rate. —B. & F. M. Brodie, From Crossbow to H-Bomb, 1973
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Middle English, from Latin incendiarius, from incendium conflagration, from incendere

First Known Use: 15th century

adjective in·cen·di·ary \in-ˈsen-dē-ˌer-ē; -ˈsen-də-rē, -dyə-\

: containing chemicals that explode into flame : producing a fire

: causing anger

: of, relating to, or involving arson : arsonous

: tending to excite or inflame : inflammatory <incendiary speeches>

a : igniting combustible materials spontaneously

b : of, relating to, or being a weapon (as a bomb) designed to start fires

: extremely hot <incendiary chili peppers>

See incendiary defined for English-language learners

While visual effects experts work with images, mechanical effects experts work with machinery, tools, incendiary devices, and other equipment to manipulate physical events during live-action filming. —Patricia D. Netzley, Encyclopedia of Movie Special Effects, 2000
In the mid-Eighties, heavy-metal music was the incendiary genre being demonized … —Alan Light, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 1993
The only caveat … is to know one's own sensitivity to chili pepper heat. If a small or moderate dose of capsicum (the incendiary chemical component in chilies) makes you dash for a glass of ice water, this menu is not going to be fun for you. —Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 15 Mar. 1991
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