campfire

American  

[kamp-fahy^uhr] / ˈkæmpˌfaɪər /

noun

campfires plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• campfires
  plural

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

The return of nostalgic favorites, like campfire meals and ham dinners, are helping to woo back guests, too, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Giving evidence to the trial last month, Prince Harry said those at the campfire would not have shared information to journalists.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 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

Thomas knew early on that the show, which portrays solved crimes in a whodunit format, should feel like storytelling around a campfire, according to senior producer Vince Sherry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

I don’t know if it was the smoke from the campfire that calmed me, or the sudden reappearance of Zu, who had come back from scouting a nearby campsite, making sure it was deserted.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

Related Words

• blaze
• bonfire
• heat
• inferno