wildfire

noun

wild·​fire ˈwī(-ə)ld-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce wildfire (audio)
Synonyms of wildfirenext
1
: a sweeping and destructive conflagration especially in a wilderness or a rural area
2
: greek fire
3
: a phosphorescent glow (such as ignis fatuus or fox fire)
4
: a destructive leaf-spot disease of tobacco caused by several strains of a bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae)
see also:
like wildfire

Examples of wildfire in a Sentence

The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The drought in the West isn’t just an issue because of wildfire risk. — Kelly Fleming, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 According to Patterson, some wildfire victims have waited over a decade to receive restitution, and likely will not receive all they were promised. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 There are no commercially available respirators that protect against all of the dangerous pollutants in wildfire smoke. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 But forecasters say the recent lack of rain will increase the potential for wildfires, a threat that has already led to a ban on campfires and charcoal barbecues in the Cleveland National Forest. — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wildfire

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wildfire was in the 12th century

Phrases Containing wildfire

Rhymes for wildfire

See All Rhymes for wildfire

Browse Nearby Words

wild fig
wildfire
wild flag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildfire. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wildfire

noun
wild·​fire ˈwī(ə)l(d)-ˌfī(ə)r How to pronounce wildfire (audio)
: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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