incendiary

Incendiary is an adjective and a noun used to describe substances, devices, or materials that are designed to ignite fires or that ignite readily. In technical contexts, incendiary substances have low ignition energy and high heat output, making them effective at starting or sustaining a blaze. As a noun, incendiary can refer to an item such as an incendiary bomb, flare, or other device intended to start fires.

Incendiary weapons are designed to create fires or cause damage through intense heat. Common examples encompass thermite mixtures, gelled incendiaries, and certain types of munitions. The use of incendiary weapons in warfare is governed by international law; Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons restricts or prohibits their use against civilians and civilian objects, and many states regulate the manufacture, transfer, and deployment of such devices. In civilian contexts, incendiary devices are generally illegal outside approved applications and regulated industries, such as demolition work, pyrotechnics, or specialized safety testing.

Rhetorically and figuratively, incendiary can describe language or media intended to inflame anger, fear, or violence rather than to inform. Incendiary rhetoric aims to provoke strong emotional reactions or mob behavior, and it is often labeled inflammatory or provocative in discourse analysis and journalism.

Safety and regulation also apply to everyday contexts. Incendiary materials are typically classified as hazardous and require careful handling, storage, and fire protection measures to prevent unintended ignition and fires.