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)

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

Direct ownership is highly illiquid and comes with management costs, property taxes, harvesting expenses, exposure to local timber markets, and risks including wildfire, pests, disease and trespassers hunting or cutting trees. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026

Power outages to prevent wildfires are forcing the postponement of high school football games. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

While the statewide average increase is nearly 30%, individual rate changes depend on factors including location and wildfire risk. — Kenny Choi, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Hours before the Bryson Fire began Thursday, another wildfire erupted in the city of Azusa, located north of Los Angeles. — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wildfire

• like 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