conflagration

[kon-fluh-grey-shuhn]

noun

1. a destructive fire, usually an extensive one.

conflagration

/ ˌkɒnfləˈɡreɪʃən /

noun

1. a large destructive fire

Other Word Forms

• conflagrative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conflagration¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin conflagrātiōn- (stem of conflagrātiō ), equivalent to conflagrāt(us), past participle of conflagrāre “to burn up”; con- ( def. ), -ate ¹ ( def. ), -ion ( def. ). Latin flagr- of conflagrāre is akin to fulgur “lightning,” flamma ( flame ), Greek phlóx ( phlox )

Word History and Origins

Origin of conflagration¹

C16: from Latin conflagrātiō, from conflagrāre to be burnt up, from com- (intensive) + flagrāre to burn; related to Latin fulgur lightning

Synonym Study

See flame.

Example Sentences

They’re residue of felled trees that burned in the horrific Palisades conflagration.

From Los Angeles Times

But over the last few decades, as blazes penetrate deeper into cities, he’s dealing with a different kind of problem: urban conflagrations.

From Los Angeles Times

Bass was on a diplomatic trip to Ghana, despite warnings of severe winds, when the conflagration erupted in early January.

From Los Angeles Times

Experts say decades of suppressing fires in California has enabled a buildup of vegetation that is fueling larger and more frequent conflagrations.

From Los Angeles Times

Companies operating around the region have already begun taking precautions against a wider conflagration.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blaze 
• bonfire 
• inferno 
• wildfire