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
And yet, tales of migrants eating pets spread throughout social media like wildfire.
—
Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 11 Sep. 2024
Arizona’s propensity for wildfires contributes as well because fires can scorch the soils preventing absorption, creating a higher chance for water channels to move long distances.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2024
Tonight’s presidential debate was held while wildfires rage in Nevada, Southern California, Oregon, and Idaho.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2024
Warmer autumns mean more demand for cooling (and thus higher energy use), longer wildfire seasons, big changes for farmers and gardeners, etc.
Driving the news: Fall temperatures rose 2.5°F on average between 1970 and 2023 across 234 locations analyzed in a new Climate Central report.
—Kavya Beheraj, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wildfire 
Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 11 Sep. 2024
Arizona’s propensity for wildfires contributes as well because fires can scorch the soils preventing absorption, creating a higher chance for water channels to move long distances.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2024
Tonight’s presidential debate was held while wildfires rage in Nevada, Southern California, Oregon, and Idaho.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2024
Warmer autumns mean more demand for cooling (and thus higher energy use), longer wildfire seasons, big changes for farmers and gardeners, etc.
Driving the news: Fall temperatures rose 2.5°F on average between 1970 and 2023 across 234 locations analyzed in a new Climate Central report.
—Kavya Beheraj, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wildfire
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wildfire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wildfire
Cite this Entry
“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildfire. Accessed 30 Sep. 2024.
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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