A small firework that is intended to spew sparks rather than explode.
What is squib?
• A similar device used to ignite an explosive or launch a rocket, etc.
• A kind of slow match or safety fuse.
• Any small firecracker sold to the general public, usually in special clusters designed to explode in series after a single master fuse is lit.
• A malfunction in which the fired projectile does not have enough force behind it to exit the barrel, and thus becomes stuck.
• The heating element used to set off the sodium azide pellets in a vehicle's airbag.
• In special effects, a small explosive used to replicate a bullet hitting a surface or a gunshot wound on an actor.
• A short piece of witty writing; a lampoon.
• A writer of lampoons.
• In a legal casebook, a short summary of a legal action placed between more extensively quoted cases.
• A short article, often published in journals, that introduces theoretically problematic empirical data or discusses an overlooked theoretical problem. In contrast to a typical article, a squib need not answer the questions that it poses.
• An unimportant, paltry, or mean-spirited person.
• A sketched concept or visual solution, usually very quick and not too detailed.
• A coward or wimp.
(Verb) To make a sound like a small explosion.
• To throw squibs; to utter sarcastic or severe reflections; to contend in petty dispute.
• To dodge something difficult, to bottle.
Why squib matters
squib appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How squib works in practice
In practice, squib is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.