fire engine

American  

[fahyuhr en-juhn] / ˈfaɪər ˌɛn dʒən /

noun

fire engines plural

1. a vehicle equipped for firefighting, now usually a motor truck having a motor-driven pump for shooting water or chemical solutions at high pressure.

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fire engine British  

noun

1. a heavy road vehicle that carries firefighters and firefighting equipment to a fire

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fire engines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fire engine

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fire engine

It said another factor was the lack of a transponder on the fire engine.

From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026

Imported Kei vehicles cost anywhere from $6,500 for an old mini van or above $10,000 for a Kei fire engine or lorry.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026

Another filmed himself checking on his home, and you can see exactly what he sees when he comments “not a fire engine in sight.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

The number of fire engine manufacturers has also declined.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2025

Mr. Gordy told how, back in aught-one or aught-two, Cold Sassy’s first steam fire engine got hit crossing the tracks to the old Sanders Hotel fire.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns