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Definition of wildfire

wildfire

/ˈwaɪldˌfaɪ.ɚ/
wild · fire
Plural:wildfires
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wildfire Lexical Profile

wildfire Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland, brush, or grassland.

Example

"Prolonged drought and strong winds caused the wildfire to sweep across thousands of acres of forest."

2

A highly flammable liquid mixture used in medieval warfare that could burn even on water; Greek fire.

Example

"Byzantine naval forces defended their harbor by launching pots of wildfire at the invading fleet."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wildfire

• Nearby Words

wildcatter
wildebeest
wilderness
wildfire
wildflower
wildfowl
wildland

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'wildefir', combining 'wild' and 'fire', originally used in the 13th century to translate Medieval Latin 'ignis Graecus' (Greek fire) before referring more broadly to lightning, inflammatory skin diseases, and uncontrolled woodland blazes.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wildfire. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wildfire
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