fire extinguisher

American

noun

a portable container, usually filled with special chemicals for putting out a fire.

fire-extinguisher British

noun

a portable device for extinguishing fires, usually consisting of a canister with a directional nozzle used to direct a spray of water, chemically generated foam, inert gas, or fine powder onto the fire

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fire extinguisher

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Another sprayed a fire extinguisher, sending up a white cloud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Standing repo facility usage: The SRF is supposed to be a backstop nobody needs, like the fire extinguisher in your kitchen.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 5, 2025

One video shows a man spraying a fire extinguisher at the fire before running away.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2025

The teacher discharged a fire extinguisher on the smoking computer and evacuated the classroom.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2025

She wrapped both hands around the neck of the fire extinguisher, bracing her body to swing.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023