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
An Alameda County Fire Department spokesperson said the crash sparked a brush fire that has since been extinguished. Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on X the Boeing 777 experienced an engine cover separation that ignited the brush fire on the ground and praised first responders for their swift action. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025 Miami-Dade and Florida Forest Service firefighters continued fighting a brush fire off the Dolphin Expressway into Monday night. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 24 Nov. 2025 While extinguishing the brush fire, crews found the body nearby that had received significant burns. Enquirer Staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Nov. 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

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Brushfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brushfire. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.

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