conflagration

noun

con·​fla·​gra·​tion ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən How to pronounce conflagration (audio)
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.

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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conflagration.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin conflagration-, conflagratio, from conflagrare — see conflagrant

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of conflagration was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near conflagration

Cite this Entry

“Conflagration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflagration. Accessed 1 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

conflagration

noun
con·​fla·​gra·​tion ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən How to pronounce conflagration (audio)
: a large disastrous fire

More from Merriam-Webster on conflagration

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