flashpoint

flashpoint — noun

1. a place, time, or situation where violence or angry conflict is very likely to b

1.nounB2
Definition

a place, time, or situation where violence or angry conflict is very likely to break out suddenly

Example

Bilal warned colleagues that the street corner was a flashpoint for gang activity after dark.

flashpoint + for [noun phrase describing conflict]

The disputed border region has long been a flashpoint where tensions easily escalate into violence.

Common collocations
  • political flashpoint
  • become a flashpoint
  • flashpoint for
  • flashpoint of tension
  • ethnic flashpoint
Synonyms
  • hot spot

    emphasises a geographic location where trouble is frequent, whereas flashpoint can also refer to a moment in time

  • tinderbox

    more dramatic — suggests a situation ready to explode at any moment; less precise than flashpoint

  • trouble spot

    informal and neutral; conveys ongoing problems but not necessarily the sudden outbreak implied by flashpoint

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

flashpoint + for [noun]

become a flashpoint

Common Mistakes

The disagreement had reached its flashpoint.
The disagreement had reached a flashpoint.
flashpoint is countable and often used with the indefinite article when referring to a specific situation.
The situation was a flashpoint.' (without further context)
The situation was a flashpoint for ethnic tensions.
the pattern flashpoint + for + [type of conflict] makes the meaning clearer.

2. the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite in o

2.nounC1
Definition

the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite in open air

Example

The safety data sheet states that the flashpoint of ethanol is about thirteen degrees Celsius.

flashpoint of [substance] — the typical pattern

Firefighters checked the flashpoint of every chemical stored in the warehouse before the inspection.

Common collocations
  • flashpoint of [substance]
  • low flashpoint
  • high flashpoint
  • flashpoint test
  • measure the flashpoint
Synonyms
  • ignition point

    a broader term that can refer to any temperature at which a substance catches fire; flashpoint is more specific to liquid-vapour ignition

  • kindling point

    less common in modern technical use; more often used for solid materials like wood

Grammar Patterns

flashpoint of [substance]

have a flashpoint of [temperature]

Usage Note

The flashpoint of a liquid should not be confused with its autoignition temperature, which is higher — flashpoint is the minimum temperature at which enough vapour is produced to ignite if an open flame is present.

Common Mistakes

The flashpoint of water is 100°C.
The boiling point of water is 100°C.
flashpoint refers to ignition of vapour, not boiling or melting.
This chemical has a high flashpoint, so it is very dangerous.
This chemical has a low flashpoint, so it is very dangerous.
a low flashpoint means it catches fire more easily.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe places where conflict can occur, but flashpoint emphasises the sudden, explosive moment when tension turns into violence. A hot spot is a location where trouble frequently happens — it implies a pattern of incidents rather than a single eruption. A tinderbox suggests a situation ready to explode at any moment, often carrying a more dramatic tone and a sense of accumulated, long-term pressure. Trouble spot is the most informal and generic of the three; it can describe any area with recurring problems, from international conflicts to local neighbourhood disputes. For example: 'The border town was a flashpoint during last year's protests' (focus on the trigger moment), whereas 'The region has been a hot spot for decades' (focus on long-standing instability).

hot spottinderboxtrouble spot

Common collocations

Nouns

  • political flashpoint
  • ethnic flashpoint
  • social flashpoint

Phrases

  • become a flashpoint
  • reach a flashpoint
  • serve as a flashpoint

Prepositions

  • flashpoint for
  • flashpoint of
  • flashpoint in

Etymology

Old English (flæsc — flash)Latin (punctum — point, via French)English (compound coining)

Flashpoint is a compound word formed in English in the late 1800s, combining 'flash' (a sudden burst of fire or light) and 'point' (a specific degree, temperature, or stage). It was first used as a chemistry term to name the temperature at which a liquid's vapour can ignite. By the mid-1900s, the word had developed a figurative meaning, describing any situation where conflict, anger, or violence might suddenly erupt — much like a spark igniting flammable vapour.