wildfire

noun

wild·​fire ˈwī(-ə)ld-ˌfī(-ə)r 

1

: a sweeping and destructive conflagration especially in a wilderness or a rural area

2

: greek fire

3

: a phosphorescent glow (such as ignis fatuus or fox fire)

4

: a destructive leaf-spot disease of tobacco caused by several strains of a bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae)

Phrases

like wildfire

: very rapidly

the news spread like wildfire

Examples of wildfire in a Sentence

The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Republicans, at the time, worried the move would upset the Trump administration and result in ramifications for California, such as the loss of federal aid for issues like wildfire recovery. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 13 Aug. 2025

At least three people have died and thousands have fled their homes as wildfires spread across southern Europe. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Aug. 2025

If a wildfire is near your location, including your residence, evacuate immediately to an unaffected area. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025

More evacuation orders rolled out across Colorado’s Western Slope on Wednesday as five wildfires burned across hundreds of square miles. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wildfire

• spread like wildfire

Rhymes for wildfire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar

Kids Definition

wildfire

noun

wild·​fire ˈwī(ə)l(d)-ˌfī(ə)r 

: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area