(firefighting) Alternative spelling of back fire

(of a gun, cannon, Bunsen burner, etc.) To fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.

simple past tense and past participle of backfire

plural of backfire

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backfire

A failure that leads to further misfortune. / The occurrence of a backfire.

present participle of backfire

plural of backfiring

The finding that, faced with evidence that contradicts their beliefs, people can reject the evidence and believe even more strongly.

plural of backfire effect