1. a person who stirs up conflict or rebellion; an agitator or revolutionary
Usage: figurative use; most common modern sense
2. a piece of burning wood or coal; a burning stick
Usage: literal; archaic or poetic

Examples

• The activist was known as a firebrand who challenged the government's policies.
• She became a firebrand of the civil rights movement, inspiring thousands.
• The politician's firebrand rhetoric divided the nation.
• He was considered a firebrand for his radical ideas about education reform.
• The firebrand leader refused to compromise with the opposition.
• In medieval times, soldiers carried firebrands to light their way through the castle.