firefighter

American  

[fahyuhr-fahy-ter] / ˈfaɪərˌfaɪ tɛr /

Or fire fighter

noun

1. a person who fights destructive fires.

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firefighter British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌfaɪtə /

noun

1. a person who fights fires, usually a public employee or trained volunteer

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Other Word Forms

• firefighting noun

Etymology

Origin of firefighter

First recorded in 1900–05; fire + fighter

Example Sentences

If firefighters hadn’t been ordered to leave a New Year’s Day fire before all the embers were extinguished, would flames have flared up on the same spot amid hurricane-force winds on Jan. 7, 2025?

From Los Angeles Times

She said she noticed only small differences, such as “mistakes” being changed to “challenges,” and the removal of firefighters’ names.

From Los Angeles Times

Looking back on the fire itself, Taylor said, “It’s so easy now to be like, ‘How dare there be a shortage of firefighters on the Eastside when that fire was on its way toward us?’

From Los Angeles Times

The first draft of the after-action report said that the department’s decision not to fully staff up and pre-deploy available firefighters ahead of the ferocious winds “did not align” with policy.

From Los Angeles Times

He was transported to the hospital in stable condition while 70 firefighters worked to extinguish the stubborn fire.

From Los Angeles Times