wildfire

noun

wild·fire | \ˈwī(-ə)ld-ˌfī(-ə)r

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

Examples of wildfire in a Sentence

The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.

Recent Examples on the Web

In New Mexico, all or part of three national forests remain closed because of the threat of wildfire, putting a damper on holiday camping plans. — CBS News, "Colorado wildfire destroys more than 100 homes; "extreme caution" urged across West," 4 July 2018 In New Mexico, all or part of three popular national forests remain closed because of the threat of wildfire, putting a damper on holiday camping plans. — Time, "Colorado Wildfire Destroys Over 100 Homes in Community Started by Magazine Publisher Malcolm Forbes," 3 July 2018 In New Mexico, all or part of three national forests remain closed because of the threat of wildfire, putting a damper on holiday camping plans. — Colleen Slevin, chicagotribune.com, "Wildfire destroys more than 100 Colorado homes," 3 July 2018 Image This is surely the only money guru who begins his book with the image of a charred sheep nearing death, one of the casualties of a devastating wildfire that destroyed his farm outside Melbourne in 2014. — Amelia Lester, New York Times, "Australians Can’t Get Enough of the Barefoot Investor," 29 June 2018 Dozens of speakers told the commission during the seven-hour meeting the development would present an evacuation nightmare in case of wildfire. — J. Harry Jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Newland Sierra housing project wins county Planning Commission approval," 28 June 2018 Every summer, firefighters go to Oakland Hills to conduct vegetation-management inspections in order to cut the chances of a wildfire going out of control. — Breanna Edwards, The Root, "Black Firefighter Conducting City-Mandated Inspections in Oakland Hills, Calif., Questioned by Residents, Reported to Police," 25 June 2018 There have been no reported injures and no structural damage as a result of the wildfire. — Amir Vera, CNN, "Colorado national forest closes due to wildfire that burned over 22,000 acres," 11 June 2018 Researchers estimate there are 44 million homes next to these lands at risk of wildfire. — Rocky Barker, idahostatesman, "The Forest Service will soon have critical funds to prevent huge fires where you live | Idaho Statesman," 2 May 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.