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)
Examples of wildfire in a Sentence
The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.
Recent Examples on the Web
Agencies in New York state had responded to 60 wildfires in the same period.
—
Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
The filing outlines various legal proceedings related to the wildfires, including approximately 750 lawsuits filed against the company and its subsidiaries.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
By the 2050s, the abnormally hot and dry weather conditions that led to recent record fire seasons in Canada are likely to become common, which could lead to larger and more frequent wildfires.
—New York Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Not only are the Santa Cruz Mountains more prone to wildfires, its roadways can be difficult to navigate by car in extreme weather.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wildfire 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
The filing outlines various legal proceedings related to the wildfires, including approximately 750 lawsuits filed against the company and its subsidiaries.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
By the 2050s, the abnormally hot and dry weather conditions that led to recent record fire seasons in Canada are likely to become common, which could lead to larger and more frequent wildfires.
—New York Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Not only are the Santa Cruz Mountains more prone to wildfires, its roadways can be difficult to navigate by car in extreme weather.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wildfire
Dictionary Entries Near wildfire
Cite this Entry
“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildfire. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wildfire
noun
wild·fire
ˈwī(ə)l(d)-ˌfī(ə)r
: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share