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)

Phrases

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

Despite the devastating wildfires that tore through the historic town of Lahaina in 2023, T+L readers showed their love of Maui by voting it the number one island in Hawaii this year. —John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025

Last week, the military announced about 200 of those troops would be returned to their units to fight wildfires. —Christopher Weber, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025

Hot and dry weather, with lightning and winds, provides prime conditions for wildfires, Tangen said. —Shannon Tyler july 7, Idaho Statesman, 8 July 2025

Fast-growing, non-native species like eucalyptus and pine are often favored for their rapid carbon uptake but can deplete groundwater, reduce biodiversity, and increase wildfire risk. —Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing 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