firebase

American  

[fahyuhr-beys] / ˈfaɪərˌbeɪs /

noun

Military.

1. an artillery base, especially one set up quickly to support advancing troops or to forestall enemy advances.

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firebase British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌbeɪs /

noun

1. an artillery base supporting advancing troops

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Etymology

Origin of firebase

First recorded in 1965–70; fire + base ¹

Example Sentences

Flying into a remote US-manned firebase in the mountainous Paktika province in a Blackhawk helicopter, my BBC crew and I were told cheerfully: "You've come to the worst place in the world".

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

In 1970, it was decided — “by vainglorious minds, smaller than mine,” Tim wrote — to reopen a long abandoned Marine firebase in the heart of the A Shau Valley, near the border with Laos.

From Washington Post • Aug. 17, 2022

He was wounded and won a Distinguished Service Cross for defending a firebase that was partly overrun by Vietcong, the Communist insurgents in the south.

From New York Times • Aug. 18, 2016

One morning in the latter part of March, Task Force Barker moved out from its firebase headed for “Pinkville.”

From Time • Mar. 16, 2015

But there are questions to be asked: Why didn't U.N. troops prevent the terrorists from using their camp as a firebase?

From Time Magazine Archive