campfire

American  

[kamp-fahy^uhr] / ˈkæmpˌfaɪər /

noun

1. an outdoor fire for warmth or cooking, as at a camp.

2. a gathering around such a fire.

3. a reunion of soldiers, scouts, etc.

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campfire British  

/ ˈkæmpˌfaɪə /

noun

1. an outdoor fire in a camp, esp one used for cooking or as a focal point for community events

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Etymology

Origin of campfire

First recorded in 1665–75; camp ¹ + fire

Explanation

A campfire is a small fire that you build when you're camping. A campfire is good for cooking food, boiling water, or warming your hands. Most boy and girl scouts learn how to build a campfire, which is useful when you're hiking or camping overnight. A campfire is perfect for toasting hot dogs and marshmallows, heating water for hot chocolate, and for sitting nearby when you tell ghost stories after dark. It's important to make sure a campfire is completely extinguished before you leave your camp site.

Example Sentences

As visuals go, “undertone” is so far removed from anything resembling the cinematic experience that I left with a fresh appreciation for campfire storytelling.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

If campfires are allowed, you must still secure a free campfire permit and have a copy with you.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025

You needn’t baby carbon-steel pans—stack them without worry, use metal utensils or stick them into the hottest pizza oven or campfire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Like walking through a sparse forest in early autumn, the air sharp with smoke from a campfire, leaves underfoot brittle enough to crack.

From Salon • Aug. 26, 2025

They were smoky smelling, not like cigarette smoke but the deeper smoke of a campfire that goes into clothes and stays there after the fire’s out.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye

Related Words

• blaze
• bonfire
• heat
• inferno