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
Trump administration officials provided more details about a new effort to supersede permitting for wildfire rebuilding in Los Angeles, allowing builders to bypass local building departments through self-certification.
—
Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Insurance companies have restricted business and dropped large numbers of California customers in recent years due to losses from past wildfires and concerns about the rising risks of major ones in the future.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The paper, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, found that from 2006 to 2020, long-term exposure to tiny particulates from wildfire smoke contributed to an average of 24,100 deaths a year in the lower 48 states.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
No areas of the county are experiencing the kind of dryness that can start and feed wildfires, the National Drought Monitor says.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wildfire
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Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Insurance companies have restricted business and dropped large numbers of California customers in recent years due to losses from past wildfires and concerns about the rising risks of major ones in the future.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The paper, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, found that from 2006 to 2020, long-term exposure to tiny particulates from wildfire smoke contributed to an average of 24,100 deaths a year in the lower 48 states.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
No areas of the county are experiencing the kind of dryness that can start and feed wildfires, the National Drought Monitor says.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wildfire
Cite this Entry
“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildfire. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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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