wildfire

noun

wild·​fire ˈwī(-ə)ld-ˌfī(-ə)r 

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)

Phrases

like wildfire

: very rapidly

the news spread like wildfire

Examples of wildfire in a Sentence

The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Agencies in New York state had responded to 60 wildfires in the same period. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024

The filing outlines various legal proceedings related to the wildfires, including approximately 750 lawsuits filed against the company and its subsidiaries. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024

By the 2050s, the abnormally hot and dry weather conditions that led to recent record fire seasons in Canada are likely to become common, which could lead to larger and more frequent wildfires. —New York Times, 4 Nov. 2024

Not only are the Santa Cruz Mountains more prone to wildfires, its roadways can be difficult to navigate by car in extreme weather. —Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wildfire

• spread like wildfire

Kids Definition

wildfire

noun

wild·​fire ˈwī(ə)l(d)-ˌfī(ə)r 

: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area