conflagration

noun

con·​fla·​gra·​tion ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən 

1

: fire

especially : a large disastrous fire

The conflagration destroyed the warehouses.

2

: conflict, war

The conflagration between the two countries lasted for ten years.

Synonyms

• fire
• holocaust
• inferno

Example Sentences

The treaty is the latest attempt to resolve the ten-year conflagration.

the historic tavern burned to the ground in a horrible conflagration

Recent Examples on the Web

Those killings set off a barrage of militant fire and the conflagration threatened to drag the region into another all-out war. —Fares Akram And Tia Goldenberg, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 May 2023

Sirens pierced the chilly predawn air, breaking 30 seconds of silence meant to commemorate the great tragedy that happened exactly 117 years before: the 1906 earthquake and great conflagration that burned for three days after. —Claire Hao, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Apr. 2023

Truly, how many flavors of conflagration can there really be? —Luke Winkie, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2023

All of this raises the likelihood of a conflagration and lessens the appeal of cooperation with Israel among the Palestinian leadership and security apparatus. —Patrick Kingsley, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023

The perception of Adam turning a profit or not is a conflagration now being waged in public, with Johnson tweeting the movie would net over $50 million after a Variety story said the movie would lose over $50 million theatrically. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2022

For thousands of people who had never seen the barn or known of its role in history, the fire generated an atmospheric spectacle, as evidence of the conflagration, impelled by southerly winds, rolled darkly across the Washington skies. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2022

The Israeli military struck targets in the Gaza Strip early Friday, pushing the region toward a wider conflagration after a day of rocket fire along the country’s northern and southern borders following two days of unrest at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. —Isabel Debre And Sam Mcneil, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023

Thursday’s rocket fire raised fears of a wider conflagration. —Isabel Debre And Sam Mcneil, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Latin conflagration-, conflagratio, from conflagrare — see conflagrant

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

conflagration

noun

con·​fla·​gra·​tion ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən 

: a large disastrous fire