conflagration

noun

con·​fla·​gra·​tion ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən 

1

: fire

especially : a large disastrous fire

The conflagration destroyed the warehouses.

2

: conflict, war

The conflagration between the two countries lasted for ten years.

Synonyms

• fire
• holocaust
• inferno

Examples of conflagration in a Sentence

The treaty is the latest attempt to resolve the ten-year conflagration.

the historic tavern burned to the ground in a horrible conflagration

Recent Examples on the Web

The conflagration within the company was also spreading to a growing circle of investors. —Karen Hao, The Atlantic, 15 May 2025

In total, 78 firefighters from 20 different units responded and were able to get the fire under control by 2 p.m. No one was injured in the conflagration. —Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025

Some suspect that DeJoy stepped aside to prevent a larger conflagration. —Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 24 Mar. 2025

In urban conflagrations, like the ones in Los Angeles, flames go horizontal in the gale-force winds, turning a burning home into a blow-torch trained upon its neighbors. —Calmatters, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin conflagration-, conflagratio, from conflagrare — see conflagrant

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for conflagration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

conflagration

noun

con·​fla·​gra·​tion ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən 

: a large disastrous fire