brushfire

1 of 2

adjective

brush·​fire ˈbrəsh-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce brushfire (audio)
Synonyms of brushfirenext
: 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
Voluntary evacuations have been issued for a brush fire burning in Fort Collins. Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 12 June 2026 Rhone has been in custody since February 2025, accused in the death of Bernardo Moreno, whose body was found after firefighters extinguished a brush fire alongside the Interstate 5 and state Route 905 interchange in October 2023. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026 Payette County deputies and multiple Payette County Fire Departments responded late Thursday afternoon to active brush fires, according to the Payette County Sheriff’s Office. Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2026 Forward progress has been halted after firefighters responded to a brush fire Tuesday near Lincoln. Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 26 May 2026 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 18 Jun. 2026.

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