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.

---

firebase British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌbeɪs /

noun

1. an artillery base supporting advancing troops

---

Etymology

Origin of firebase

First recorded in 1965–70; fire + base ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

firebase

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

At one point in that summer, five Mirkhan brothers, along with one of Azar’s nephews, were fighting shoulder to shoulder at a Sector 6 firebase.

From New York Times ● Aug. 10, 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

Days later, an elite troop of Pakistani forces attacked several al-Qaeda safe houses across the border from the U.S. firebase.

From Time Magazine Archive