firefighter

Or fire fight·er

[fahyuhr-fahy-ter]

noun

1. a person who fights destructive fires.

firefighter

/ ˈfaɪəˌfaɪtə /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• firefighting noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of firefighter¹

First recorded in 1900–05; fire + fighter

Example Sentences

He “later told investigators that he offered to help the firefighters fight the fire,” the complaint said.

From Los Angeles Times

The immense Oakland Hills fire in 1991, which destroyed 2,500 structures, exploded after firefighters believed they contained an earlier six-acre fire the day before.

From Los Angeles Times

“In many cases, firefighters use water to douse and cool nearby structures to keep the fire from spreading further. This minimizes additional damage to the facilities.”

From Los Angeles Times

Police, firefighters and hundreds of local Tibetan volunteers were mobilised for the rescue effort.

From BBC

On Friday night, firefighters from Cal Fire San Diego County responded to a call for a goat rescue at a farm in a rural area of Descanso.

From Los Angeles Times