firefight

[ fahyuhr-fahyt ]

noun

1. an exchange of gunfire between two opposing forces, especially a skirmish between military forces.

firefight

/ ˈfaɪəˌfaɪt /

noun

1. a brief small-scale engagement between opposing military ground forces using short-range light weapons

Word History and Origins

Origin of firefight¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; fire + fight

Example Sentences

I mean, the helicopters and the firefights—everything was just so over the top.

From Outside Online

In short, on the immediate level of what helps give an edge in a firefight, a gun firing from the back of a waist-height robot gives a squad commander a host of options.

From Popular-Science

During the day-long firefight, Pretel is said to have repeatedly assured the men that reinforcements were coming to rescue them.

From The Daily Beast

While she ultimately proves to be a bad firefight leader, she’s expresses her personality and emotions more clearly here than in the first game.

From Washington Post

There was quite a firefight over trying to find out who this was.

From Washington Post

During the intense firefight that followed, four Kurdish fighters died, including three of Ahmed's cousins.

From The Daily Beast

What often is forgotten—and what Beck could probably stand to remember—is that the massacre was, technically, a firefight.

From The Daily Beast

Less than 30 minutes after the firefight started, commandos entered the compound and found the mortally wounded hostages.

From The Daily Beast

There is something about a firefight at night, something about the mechanical elegance of an M-60 machine gun.

From The Daily Beast

The day after the assault, ISAF announced that forces had stumbled upon the dead women after a firefight with insurgents.

From The Daily Beast