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)

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

Dead forests can increase wildfire hazards by adding more combustible material. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 31 July 2026

As a heat wave fuels fast-moving wildfires across southern Europe, thousands of people have been forced to evacuate communities in France, Spain and Greece. — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 30 July 2026

The wildfires sweeping through southern Europe, which have forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes or vacations, are not a surprise and will only become more likely in the future, two new pieces of research suggest. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 30 July 2026

Millions are under hosepipe bans, parched yellow grass has replaced lush green fields and wildfire risk is increasing. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wildfire

• like wildfire
• spread like wildfire

Rhymes for wildfire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar

Kids Definition

wildfire

noun

wild·​fire ˈwī(ə)l(d)-ˌfī(ə)r 

: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area