fire engine

American  

[fahyuhr en-juhn] / ˈfaɪər ˌɛn dʒən /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of fire engine

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

Atop the aerial ladder of a bright red fire engine, a firefighter wrangles a hose.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

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

He saw a fire engine parked next to a hydrant on his street, and called for help.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

Ms Logan's coffin, draped in the Union flag, was carried atop an aerial ladder platform fire engine.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2025

Or maybe it was more like when the fire bells clang on Cold Sassy’s horse-drawn fire engine and you just got to go chasing after it to where the smoke is billowing up.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns