wildfire

noun wild·fire \ ˈwī(-ə)ld-ˌfī(-ə)r \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of wildfire

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)

— like wildfire

: very rapidly

the news spread like wildfire

See wildfire defined for English-language learners

See wildfire defined for kids

Examples of wildfire in a Sentence

The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.

Recent Examples of wildfire from the Web

Recent heavy rainfall has led to problems for a state recovering from devastating wildfires, forcing people to flee their homes repeatedly for fear of debris flows tearing down hillsides stripped bare by flames.

— Washington Post, "National Digest: Puerto Rico needs $50 billion to rebuild, says FEMA head," 8 Apr. 2018
In all, the federal program will provide $2.36 billion to farmers in Florida and other states affected by hurricanes and wildfires, part of a $90 billion disaster relief package signed by President Donald Trump on Feb. 9.

— OrlandoSentinel.com, "Disaster aid for Florida farmers to come within 100 days, feds say," 6 Apr. 2018
The news of King’s assassination spread like wildfire, and black Memphis was drowning in intense grief.

— kirsten west savali, The Root, "Watch: ‘We’ve Gotta March Again.’ Sanitation Workers Remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last Battle Cry," 4 Apr. 2018
In 2010, more than 55,000 died when a heat wave sparked devastating wildfires in Russia.

— alex harris, miamiherald, "The future holds twice as many heat waves — all because of us, research shows | Miami Herald," 19 Mar. 2018
The mudslides, which were triggered after heavy rain sent mud and rocks tumbling down hills that lacked vegetation due to devastating wildfires, destroyed over 100 homes, according to ABC7.

— sarah gray, Time, "Katy Perry Surprises Survivors and First Responders of Deadly Montecito Mudslides," 26 Feb. 2018
A month earlier, the family had evacuated to a Red Cross shelter for a night as the devastating wildfire threatened their home.

— CBS News, "Sisters among victims of California mudslides," 15 Jan. 2018
A month earlier, the family had evacuated to a Red Cross shelter for a night as a devastating wildfire that went on to blacken nearby mountains threatened their home and many others.

— michael balsamo, The Seattle Times, "Thousands attend vigil for California mudslide victims," 14 Jan. 2018
Without nature taking its course trees become overcrowded, while dead trees and brush build up that provide a volatile fuel for fires that have the potential to expand into devastating wildfires.

— john s. marshall, Houston Chronicle, "Officials wait for ideal weather before controlled burn in Jones State Forest," 12 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wildfire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of wildfire

12th century

WILDFIRE Defined for English Language Learners

wildfire

noun

Definition of wildfire for English Language Learners

: a fire in a wild area (such as a forest) that is not controlled and that can burn a large area very quickly

WILDFIRE Defined for Kids

wildfire

noun wild·fire \ ˈwīld-ˌfīr \

Definition of wildfire for Students

: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area

Learn More about wildfire

See words that rhyme with wildfire Spanish Central: Translation of wildfire Nglish: Translation of wildfire for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wildfire

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Definition of wildfire

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wildfire

Definition of wildfire for English Language Learners

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wildfire

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