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
Widespread haze from wildfire smoke in Colorado and Utah will also filter into the region at times, potentially reducing visibility and adding to already unsettled atmospheric conditions.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
But forecasters say the recent lack of rain will increase the potential for wildfires, a threat that has already led to a ban on campfires and charcoal barbecues in the Cleveland National Forest.
—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 July 2026
There are no commercially available respirators that protect against all of the dangerous pollutants in wildfire smoke.
—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
In 2018, a blaze east of Athens killed more than 100 people, while a massive fire in 2023 which tore through a remote nature reserve in northeastern Greece was the largest wildfire ever recorded in the European Union.
—
ABC News,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for wildfire
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Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
But forecasters say the recent lack of rain will increase the potential for wildfires, a threat that has already led to a ban on campfires and charcoal barbecues in the Cleveland National Forest.
—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 July 2026
There are no commercially available respirators that protect against all of the dangerous pollutants in wildfire smoke.
—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
In 2018, a blaze east of Athens killed more than 100 people, while a massive fire in 2023 which tore through a remote nature reserve in northeastern Greece was the largest wildfire ever recorded in the European Union.
—
ABC News,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for wildfire
Cite this Entry
“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildfire. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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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