campfire

noun

camp·​fire ˈkamp-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce campfire (audio)
: a fire built outdoors (as at a camp or a picnic)

Examples of campfire in a Sentence

We gathered around a campfire and shared stories.
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.
Although a campfire is still an artificial form of light, the warm yellows and reds of its flames are less disruptive to our wake-sleep cycles than the bright, cool blue lights emitted from computers, TVs, and fluorescent bulbs. Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025 The Outset also eliminates the need to climb up a ladder to bed, something particularly valuable for pets, small children, elderly campers, and those who took one too many pulls off the Jack bottle around the campfire. New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025 Build your campfire in a metal ring or pit. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Pumpkin Spice Moon Pies (online All City Candy) – Classic campfire nostalgia with a cinnamon-sugar glow-up, recommended by trend watcher Tyler Denk, co-founder of beehiiv. Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for campfire

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of campfire was in 1816

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Campfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/campfire. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

campfire

noun
camp·​fire ˈkamp-ˌfī(ə)r How to pronounce campfire (audio)
: a fire built outdoors (as at a camp)

More from Merriam-Webster on campfire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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