firefight

American  

[fahyuhr-fahyt] / ˈfaɪərˌfaɪt /

noun

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

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firefight British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌfaɪt /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of firefight

First recorded in 1895–1900; fire + fight

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

firefight

The firefight includes helitankers, which are dropping water on the blaze, Lai said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Essentially, any player is tradeable, leaving sporting directors and managers to firefight.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

In Israel Hayom, military columnist Yoav Limor describes the firefight near Rafah as "a warning", adding: "If Israel fails to establish tough and clear rules vis-à-vis Hamas it could find itself on a slippery slope."

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2025

Rockwell said additional fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County had been called in to assist with the firefight.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2025

It was funny that he should smile when we might be going into a firefight.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers