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A fire that spreads rapidly and uncontrollably through vegetation, often causing significant damage.
Firefighters struggled to contain the wildfire that swept across the national park.
Emergency services worked to stop the fire from spreading further.
California is known for its frequent wildfires during the dry season.
The state faces annual challenges from fires burning large areas.
Often used metaphorically in media to describe rapid spread of information or trends.
A situation or process that spreads very quickly and is difficult to control.
The rumor about the celebrity spread like wildfire on social media.
The gossip quickly became widely known online.
The new product went viral, selling out in wildfire fashion.
The product's popularity exploded rapidly.
Used figuratively to describe the rapid dissemination of information, trends, or emotions.
In Australian English, 'bushfire' is the preferred term for wildfires in bushland. In American English, 'wildfire' is standard.
Distinguish between the literal meaning (uncontrolled fire) and figurative use (rapid spread of information). Context determines the intended meaning.
From Middle English 'wilde' (untamed) + 'fire' (combustion). The compound form dates to the 14th century, originally describing uncontrolled fires in nature.
In formal contexts, 'wildfire' refers specifically to uncontrolled vegetation fires. In informal contexts, it may describe rapid spread of information or trends. The phrase 'spread like wildfire' is a common idiomatic expression.