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

The conflagration turned more than 14,021 acres to ash, killed 19 people, destroyed 9,414 structures, and badly burned another 1,074. —Pat Maio, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026

The Great Kanto Earthquake and the ensuing conflagration killed 140,000 people, traumatized the country, and set back Japanese industrial production for years. —Joshua Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026

Israel says its operation in Lebanon aims to destroy Hezbollah, and its scope has already exceeded previous conflagrations between the nation and the Shiite group. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Most European leaders have trodden a fine line between offering limited support for US military action against Iran and warning of a regional conflagration. —Tim Lister, CNN Money, 8 Mar. 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