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
Pratt has been asked to leverage his social media audience — more than 4 million followers across the major platforms — to speak out about accountability issues involving the wildfires in Altadena and Maui.
—
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Elsewhere, AccuWeather says that a warm, dry pattern will be most pronounced across California and the Southwest, where worsening drought and the risk of out-of-season wildfires are expected.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Visitors can meet firefighters/paramedics and see live demonstrations, fire engines and equipment and pick up safety and wildfire prevention tips.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
The ensuing Palisades fire was one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history, destroying 23,400 acres of land and nearly 7,000 homes across the Pacific Palisades region.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wildfire
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Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Elsewhere, AccuWeather says that a warm, dry pattern will be most pronounced across California and the Southwest, where worsening drought and the risk of out-of-season wildfires are expected.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Visitors can meet firefighters/paramedics and see live demonstrations, fire engines and equipment and pick up safety and wildfire prevention tips.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
The ensuing Palisades fire was one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history, destroying 23,400 acres of land and nearly 7,000 homes across the Pacific Palisades region.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wildfire
Cite this Entry
“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildfire. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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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