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)
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Examples of wildfire in a Sentence
The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.
Recent Examples on the Web
On the ground, first responders described how Watch Duty’s real-time wildfire mapping and alert app has become indispensable when fast-moving fires leave little room for hesitation or error.
—
Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Southern California is prone to different types of disasters from strong winds, earthquakes, floods and wildfires.
—Amy Johnson, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Normally, Spare the Air alerts are issued when the Bay Area is affected by wildfire smoke, but during the winter months, wood smoke from homes can be a significant source of pollution.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
This will reinforce the colder temperatures on Saturday and keep an elevated threat of fast-spreading wildfires in place through Sunday.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildfire. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
wildfire
noun
wild·fire
ˈwī(ə)l(d)-ˌfī(ə)r
: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area
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