brushfire

1 of 2

adjective

brush·​fire ˈbrəsh-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce brushfire (audio)
: involving mobilization only on a small and local scale
brushfire border wars

brush fire

2 of 2

noun

1
: a fire involving low-growing plants (such as scrub and brush)
2
: a minor conflict or crisis
putting out political brush fires

Examples of brushfire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Here’s the latest on the South Miami-Dade brush fires on Friday. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025 Smoldering fires The exact cause of the Miami-Dade brush fire is unknown. Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025 The brush fire burned about 400 acres, or about 303 football fields worth of land, on the border of Sedgwick and Logan counties but didn’t damage any structures, Logan County Emergency Manager Josilyn Lutze said. Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2025 Travel may also be difficult, and the combination of high winds with dry vegetation and warm temperatures can lead to uncontrolled brush fires, according to the weather service. Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brushfire

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1954, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brushfire was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brushfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brushfire. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!