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

Not only do wildfires destroy vegetation that would normally soak up some of the rainfall, but their extreme heat can alter the soil, creating a water-repellent layer just below the surface. —Taylor Ward, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025

The three main reasons for utility bill increases in recent years are natural gas costs, grid expansions and upgrades, and repair efforts from increasing severe weather events, including wildfires and hurricane, Hua said. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025

The wildfire has been burning on private land. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025

Finally, during the wildfires in January of this year, the 47-year-old mother of four closed her last restaurants in Los Angeles and moved with her family to Texas. —Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 13 Nov. 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