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 temple’s lawsuit details how investigators have found Edison’s equipment to have caused multiple wildfires in the last 10 years, including the the Round Fire in 2015, the Rey Fire in 2016, the Thomas, Creek, and Rye fires in 2017,and the Woolsey Fire in 2018. —Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026

The Boise City Council vowed to stem growth in one of the city’s richest neighborhoods Tuesday, unanimously resolving to limit housing in the northern Foothills to prioritize open space, wildfire management and city services. —Mark Dee january 27, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026

Cal Fire formed the task force in August, about six weeks after an unpermitted fireworks facility exploded in rural Yolo County, killing seven people and sparking a 78-acre wildfire. —Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Casparis gestured toward the surrounding neighborhood, much of it still bearing scars from last year’s wildfire. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 28 Jan. 2026

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