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
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)
see also like wildfire
Examples of wildfire in a Sentence
The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.
Recent Examples on the Web
The wildfire has been burning on private land.
—
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Extreme weather is driving costs up Extreme weather - from wildfires in California to hurricanes in Florida - is driving a homeowner's insurance crisis.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
What To Know Homeowners and renters across 10 California and Nevada counties now have access to significant federal disaster loan aid following the disastrous Pack Fire, a wildfire event that was driven by wind gusts exceeding 50 mph resulting from an atmospheric river passing nearby.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
And the debate has set off a wildfire on social media this week, catching the attention of high-profile business leaders, including Joe Lonsdale, the billionaire venture capitalist and Palantir cofounder.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wildfire
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Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Extreme weather is driving costs up Extreme weather - from wildfires in California to hurricanes in Florida - is driving a homeowner's insurance crisis.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
What To Know Homeowners and renters across 10 California and Nevada counties now have access to significant federal disaster loan aid following the disastrous Pack Fire, a wildfire event that was driven by wind gusts exceeding 50 mph resulting from an atmospheric river passing nearby.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
And the debate has set off a wildfire on social media this week, catching the attention of high-profile business leaders, including Joe Lonsdale, the billionaire venture capitalist and Palantir cofounder.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wildfire
Cite this Entry
“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildfire. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wildfire
noun
wild·fire
ˈwī(ə)l(d)-ˌfī(ə)r
: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area
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