incendiary Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a criminal who illegally sets fire to property
    arsonist; firebug.
  2. noun a bomb that is designed to start fires; is most effective against flammable targets (such as fuel)
    firebomb; incendiary bomb.
  3. adjective involving deliberate burning of property
    • an incendiary fire
  4. adjective satellite arousing to action or rebellion
    rabble-rousing; inflammatory; incitive; instigative; seditious.
  5. adjective satellite capable of catching fire spontaneously or causing fires or burning readily
    • an incendiary agent
    • incendiary bombs

WordNet

In*cen"di*a*ry noun
Etymology
L. incendiarius: cf. F. incendiaire. See Incense to inflame.
Wordforms
plural Incendiaries
Definitions
  1. Any person who maliciously sets fire to a building or other valuable or other valuable property.
  2. A person who excites or inflames factions, and promotes quarrels or sedition; an agitator; an exciter.
    Several cities . . . drove them out as incendiaries. Bentley.
In*cen"di*a*ry adjective
Etymology
L. incendiarius, fr. incendium a fire, conflagration: cf. F. incendiaire. See Incense to inflame.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to incendiarism, or the malicious burning of valuable property; as, incendiary material; as incendiary crime.
  2. Tending to excite or inflame factions, sedition, or quarrel; inflammatory; seditious. Paley.

Webster 1913