brushfire

1 of 2

adjective

brush·​fire ˈbrəsh-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce brushfire (audio)
: involving mobilization only on a small and local scale
brushfire border wars

brush fire

2 of 2

noun

1
: a fire involving low-growing plants (such as scrub and brush)
2
: a minor conflict or crisis
putting out political brush fires

Examples of brushfire in a Sentence

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.
Noun
The brush fire’s smoke could be seen from space, satellite imagery from the National Weather Service showed. Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 June 2025 In the first few hours, the fire departments from Pasadena, L.A. County and the Angeles National Forest responded together to the brush fire that broke out in Eaton Canyon, not far from homes. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025 Several New York counties remain on alert following multiple brush fires that broke out over the weekend. William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025 On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Fire Department rushed to halt the spread of a 4-acre brush fire in the Sepulveda Basin that left one person with minor burns and caused temporary disruptions to Metro bus service. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for brushfire

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1954, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brushfire was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Brushfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brushfire. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

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