# backfire

> English word · Noun · IPA /bækˈfaɪə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #24,988

## Definitions
1. A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.
2. An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.
3. An explosion in other equipment.
4. Alternative form of back fire.

## Etymology
From back + fire.

## Easily confused with
- **backside** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backfire-vs-backside)
- **backline** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backfire-vs-backline)

## Common misspellings (12)
`abckfire`, `bacckfire`, `bacfkire`, `backffire`, `backfier`, `backfirre`, `backfrie`, `backifre`, `backkfire`, `bakcfire`, `bbackfire`, `bcakfire`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/backfire