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 of conflagration

• inferno
• fire

Examples of conflagration in a Sentence

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

These conflagrations follow the historic fires that raged in France and Spain last month, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026

Fourteen people were injured — two critically — in the conflagration and taken to local hospitals. — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

Under a blockade by fire, as with a traditional blockade, the damage to Taiwan occurs through increasing supply shortages and rising prices, not conflagrations in Taiwan’s major cities. — Eugene Gholz, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026

The conflagration began near Hogan Dam Road and Gann Road, according to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin conflagrātiōn-, conflagrātiō, from conflagrāre "to be destroyed by fire, be burnt down" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at conflagrant

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for conflagration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

conflagration

noun

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

: a large disastrous fire