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

Poon described this as a warning from the gods about the conflagration to come. —Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2025

The conflagration probably destroyed everything in that boat. —CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025

For two decades, many policymakers and pundits had insisted that attacking Tehran’s nuclear program would provoke a regional conflagration. —Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025

She was involved, of course, but not in the direct line of fire in either of these conflagrations. —Kate Aurthur, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025

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