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.

---

fire engine British  

noun

1. a heavy road vehicle that carries firefighters and firefighting equipment to a fire

---

Etymology

Origin of fire engine

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engine crews were called to tackle the blaze, which affected two floors of the property at Caerphilly Close, just after midnight on Friday 9 January.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

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

"When we got home, a fire engine was already there and our whole front garden was already flooded and the kids toys were floating around," she said.

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2025

“We simply cannot have a fire engine in every driveway,” he warned.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2025

With a happy wave he climbed back into the fire engine and pulled noisily away.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor