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

The record may come as no surprise after a summer marked by extreme weather, from wildfires to floods, and on the cusp of what scientists believe will be a historic El Niño. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 2026

Europe saw a series of record-shattering heat waves this summer, along with wildfires in places that typically do not see them, such as the UK. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

The index does not include the cost of home insurance, which, amid a rise in wildfires statewide, cost Angelenos $2,248 on average last year, up a whopping 75% since 2021, according to mortgage lender Newrez. — Ava Hu, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

From increasing the intensity of wildfire seasons to worsening natural disasters, climate change is far from a distant future. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Sep. 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