firebrand C2 Topic:Communication US /ˈfaɪɚ.bɹænd/ UK /ˈfaɪə.bɹænd/ See IPA manual Freq #50370 Meanings 1 noun An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo. The member of the college's Communist League was a firebrand who would launch a sit-in or protest march at a moment's notice. 2 noun A torch or other burning stick with a flame at one end. The crowd cheered as a firebrand was tossed onto the huge pile of wood to start the traditional homecoming bonfire. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · an argumentative... radicalrevolutionarytroublemaker Word family Derived forms firebrandishfirebrandism Etymology From Middle English fyr-brand, furbrond, equivalent to fire + brand. Cognate with German Feuerbrand (“firebrand”). Topics Communication External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # firebrand **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈfaɪɚ.bɹænd/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈfaɪə.bɹænd/ **Frequency rank:** 50370 ## Meanings 1. An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo. 2. A torch or other burning stick with a flame at one end. ## Examples - The member of the college's Communist League was a firebrand who would launch a sit-in or protest march at a moment's notice. - The crowd cheered as a firebrand was tossed onto the huge pile of wood to start the traditional homecoming bonfire. ## Synonyms - radical - revolutionary - troublemaker ## Derived Forms - firebrandish - firebrandism ## Etymology From Middle English fyr-brand, furbrond, equivalent to fire + brand. Cognate with German Feuerbrand (“firebrand”). ## Topics - Communication markdown